Paratroopers from the United States Army’s 11th Airborne Division conducted a mass drop in Hokkaido, Japan, as part of the bilateral winter exercise North Wind 26, conducted in partnership with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force in late January 2026.
The action took place in Hokudai-en and mobilized soldiers from the 3rd Battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, supported by US Air Force transport aircraft.
The tactical jump was executed in extremely cold conditions and followed by ground maneuvers that simulated combat operations in austere terrain. Shortly after landing, troops carried out deployment exercises, defensive actions and direct fire simulations, testing rapid insertion capabilities, inter-unit coordination and command and control in a harsh winter environment.
Held between January 20th and February 3rd, North Wind 26 aims to increase interoperability between the two countries’ forces in cold and mountainous regions. The annual training in Hokkaido reproduces conditions similar to those that can be found in possible operational scenarios in Northeast Asia, with a focus on joint action immediately after airborne insertion.
+China displays model of the 400 km PL-17 missile alongside the J-20 fighter at military fair
The 11th Airborne Division’s participation reflects the U.S. Army’s strategy to bolster capabilities in cold weather and expeditionary operations, especially in areas where the use of mechanized assets is limited. The exercise also served to test airlift coordination, ground reception and logistics support under severe conditions, demonstrating the readiness of forces to act quickly in support of U.S.-Japan alliance commitments.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @INDOPACOM | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
U.S. Army paratroopers trained with @Japan_GSDF partners to sharpen cold-weather readiness and interoperability.
📸 Courtesy#AlliesAndPartners #Airborne #Readiness #IndoPacific #NorthWind26 pic.twitter.com/SvvxKhF4KG
— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) January 28, 2026
