For Flight Lieutenant Patrick 'Kandy' Kane, what was a childhood dream to fly fast jets has led him to leading a combined Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) mission of F-35A Lightning II jets during Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 in Misawa, Japan.
The role of mission commander is one of great responsibility for a junior officer, and being handed the responsibility is a testament to his leadership qualities and tactical excellence.
Growing up in Frankston, Victoria, Flight Lieutenant Kane always wanted to fly - but not just any aircraft.
"It was always the fast jets - that's the only flying I was interested in," he said.
So to land himself a seat in an F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 3 Squadron more than meets the remit.
"Flying the F-35A for the very first time - it felt like strapping myself onto a rocket ship," he said.
The F-35A Lightning II is the Australian Defence Force's first fifth-generation air combat capability. It is a highly advanced multi-role, supersonic, stealth fighter that meets Australia's requirements to defeat current and emerging threats.
'It was always the fast jets - that's the only flying I was interested in.'
The F-35A is at the forefront of air combat technology. Advanced sensors and data fusion allow it to gather and share information faster than ever before. Capable of supersonic flight while retaining stealth, the F-35A has extraordinary acceleration, agility and 9G manoeuvrability. The F-35A also provides its pilots with significantly higher levels of lethality and survivability in combat.
Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 has seen F-35As from 3 Squadron deploying to Japan to take part in the tri-lateral air combat exercise, which includes JASDF and USAF F-35A Lightning IIs as well as other assets.
Interoperability is key to the activity - as the exercise builds trust and mutual understanding in the air combat fraternity, building on already strong relationships between the three countries' aviators.
"It is very easy to work side by side with JASDF and USAF pilots," Flight Lieutenant Kane said.
"But this training greatly enhances those camaraderies and relationships."
The exercise helps Air Force prepare for a range of operational scenarios to address Australia's most significant security risks, through sophisticated, integrated collective training.
As mission commander of RAAF, JASDF and USAF aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Kane is helping Australia prepare to meet security challenges and promote a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
