Airpower on parade: US Air force is joined by crews from Japan and Australia to flex their airborne muscles with 130 aircraft at annual Elephant Walk

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The US Air Force is putting on a display of military might alongside crews from Japan and Australia for an annual Elephant Walk in Guam to flex their muscles near the South China Sea.

Around 130 aircraft are taking part in the annual display at the Andersen Air Force base, 1,800 miles east of China, during the traditional processions for Exercise Cope North 22.

The exercise is a show of the brute firepower and immense capabilities of the US military and its Pacific allies on the doorstep of North Korea and China.

It also shows the world, including Russia who is preparing a potential invasion of Ukraine at any moment which would draw in US troops, how the West can project troop power.

More than 2,500 US airmen, marines and sailors are training alongside 1,000 combined Japanese and Australian troops from 30 units, in the exercises from February 2 to 18.

The US Air Force is putting on a display of military might alongside crews from Japan and Australia for an annual Elephant Walk in Guam to flex their muscles near the South China Sea. Pictured at the front of the elephant walk is a Black Hawk helicopter, while multiple C-130J Hercules transport planes follow in formation

Around 130 aircraft are taking part in the annual display at the Andersen Air Force base, 1,800 miles east of China, during the traditional processions for Exercise Cope North 22. In the elephant walk on Saturday are an AWACS for aerial surveillance, and a huge C17, a military transporter which was drafted in for the Kabul airlifts

The exercise is a show of the brute firepower and immense capabilities of the US military and its Pacific allies on the doorstep of North Korea and China

The elephant walk sees the aircraft taxiing close in formation right before a minimum interval takeoff. 

It is the largest multilateral exercise of the US Pacific Air Forces and was set up in 1978.

It was previously held at the Misawa Air Base in Japan until 1999, after which it moved base to Andersen.

The term Elephant Walk comes from World War II when large air fleets would be launched together on bombing raids.

The aircraft would prepare for take-off in nose-to-tail formations, similar to a herd of elephants. 

The term Elephant Walk comes from World War II when large air fleets would be launched together on bombing raids

More than 2,500 US Airmen, Marines, and Sailors are training alongside 1,000 combined Japanese and Australian from 30 units, in the exercises from February 2 to 18

The involvement of large transport and cargo planes also allows different wings of the military and different forces to practise their teamwork

The involvement of large transport and cargo planes also allows different wings of the military and different forces to practise their teamwork.

Fighter jets and cargo planes have different operational demands, and an elephant walk allows them to work in tandem on a single mission. 

Cope North allows US and allied forces to exercise humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts and interoperability to prepare for and recover from the devastating effects of natural disasters.

Australian Task Group Commander Group Captain Andrew McHugh said: 'Exercise Cope North is focused on interoperability with our partner nations through combined tactics, techniques and procedures for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and the mass combat and air mobility missions.

Fighter jets and cargo planes have different operational demands, and an elephant walk allows them to work in tandem on a single mission

Cope North allows US and allied forces to exercise humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts and interoperability to prepare for and recover from the devastating effects of natural disasters

'Working alongside the United States Air Force and the Koku-Jieitai in a realistic training scenario across complex island terrain will further enhance our capabilities to ensure we are able to provide timely and effective responses when called upon in real-time situations.

'By bringing together the trilateral forces, we are able to strengthen our capabilities as a larger combined force, which is essential for an open, prosperous, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific.' 

A US Air Force statement read: 'Cope North enhances US relationships with our regional allies and partners by fostering the exchange of information and refining shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to better integrate multilateral defense capabilities and enhance interoperability in support of regional security.'