YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet ships, U.S. Air Force and Army assets, and units from the Japan Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces, completed Resilient Shield 2019, March 1.

Resilient Shield is an annual computer-based Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise held within the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet area of Operations (AOO) and other command centers throughout the region.

Resilient Shield strengthens interoperability by enhancing joint multi-lateral operations between the U.S. and Japan Forces, by allowing them to focus on synthetic ballistic missile defense exercises.

“This exercise enables Japanese and U.S. Naval vessels to enter into synthetic operational situations using the naval continuous training environment” said Capt. Michael Smith, 7th Fleet Air Defense Officer.

Participating Seventh Fleet Units include Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and guided-missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Milius (DDG 69) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85). Resilient Shield is an annual computer-based Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise held at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), Japan, and other command centers in Asia and the United States.

Resilient Shield 2019 is specifically focused on BMD training for JMSDF ships and 7th Fleet's forward deployed ships. Both U.S. Navy and JMSDF BMD-capable ships, along with the U.S. Air Force and JASDF, provide a robust missile defense capability for the U.S. and our allies.


The ships' warfighting teams will exchange operational integrated air and missile defense (IAMD), surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare information for advanced tactical training. This training is designed to improve proficiency in warfighting and joint operations for ballistic missile defense.

The successful defense of the U.S. and our allies from unanticipated ballistic missile threats requires detailed planning, precision ship stationing and quick defensive reactions. In turn, the missile defense mission is one of many missions that the U.S. and allies practice on a regular basis to maintain maximum proficiency and cooperation.