US Air Force Central (AFCENT) and regional partners from within US Central Command's (CENTCOM) area of responsibility are slated to conduct an Operation Agile Spartan (OAS) exercise in August.

The upcoming exercise will build on a longstanding tradition of AFCENT exercises that focus on improving responsiveness to emerging threats from land, sea and air and bolstering security cooperation and interoperability with regional partners.

The newest iteration of OAS will continue to focus on building the US Air Force's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) capabilities, which emphasize using agile tactics, such as short landing and takeoff capabilities, to respond to threats in modern contested environments.

The ACE concept shifts airpower from large, standalone bases to dispersed locations and cluster bases.

OAS will enhance ACE-based interoperability with regional partners and expand the number of ACE locations from which coalition forces can launch combat missions.

The US Air Force has built a vast, flexible fleet of both unmanned and manned aircraft that are repairable and durable.

This year, AFCENT plans to showcase US and partner nation's F-16 and F-15 Super Eagle fighters working together to maximize combat capabilities.

The upcoming iteration of OAS also aims to practice launching and recovering a wide variety of aircraft from austere locations, including A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster IIIs, KC-135 Stratotankers and MQ-9 Reapers.

Engaging with partners

The US Air Force regularly holds OAS drills several times a year. In February, an OAS exercise was held at an undisclosed location in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

Two iterations of OAS took place in 2023, including OAS 23.2, a 12-day long exercise in August.

Each of AFCENT's five expeditionary wings participated in the exercise, launching and recovering aircraft from austere locations.

OAS 23.1, hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2023, saw US airmen and soldiers based out of al-Dhafra air base establishing three simulated cluster locations with necessary operational support functions. From there, forces launched and recovered MQ-9 Reapers nine times.

"Operation Agile Spartan allows us to test our abilities, builds our Airmen's confidence in their capabilities, and gives our decision makers the space they need to adjust to that dynamic threat environment," said Lt. Col. Allen Cohen, OAS detachment commander.

By engaging partners across the world, the US Air Force heightens its awareness of the battlespace and ability to operate under any conditions at any time.

Joint military operations such as OAS also deepen ties not only between nations but between troops on an interpersonal level, allowing them to train and operate together.