The U.S. Air Force is conducting training operations out of the Kenai Municipal Airport as part of a large-scale military exercise taking place across Alaska.
According to 2nd Lt. Jeremiah W.B. Robinson, Public Affairs Officer for the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing, the exercise—known as Tropic Tundra—runs from May 27 through June 6 and involves operations in three locations across the state, including the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, and one additional undisclosed site.
The Kenai operations are being coordinated through Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which recently stood up the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing. The unit combines personnel from the 673d Air Base Wing and the 3rd Wing to conduct integrated training in cold-weather environments.
“We’re conducting a variety of tactics, techniques, and procedures during the exercise,” Robinson said. “The staff at Kenai Municipal Airport has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of our operations.”
Local residents may notice increased military air activity over the coming days, including the presence of F-22 fighter jets performing routine training flights.
“People can expect to see a couple of F-22s flying throughout the day,” Robinson said. “These are standard training maneuvers and shouldn’t cause any alarm.”
While the training is visible in the skies, Robinson emphasized that there are no elevated safety concerns for the public. The Air Force has coordinated closely with airport officials to ensure operations are conducted safely and with minimal disruption.
“We’ve taken all the necessary precautions and worked with Kenai airport staff to ensure our presence won’t pose any hindrance to the community,” he said.
Additional details may be released by the Air Force in the coming days.
