U.S. Army conducts mass paratrooper drop in Japan

United States Army paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division conducted a mass tactical airborne operation in Hokkaido, Japan, in late January 2026 as part of North Wind 26, a bilateral winter training exercise with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, U.S. Army Japan confirmed.

The operation took place at Hokudai-en in northern Hokkaido and involved soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who executed airborne insertion procedures in extreme cold-weather conditions. The jump was supported by U.S. Air Force transport aircraft and followed by ground maneuvers designed to simulate combat operations in austere terrain.

According to U.S. Army Japan, the airborne operation formed the central event of the exercise and was intended to test rapid force insertion, unit coordination, and command-and-control under winter conditions. Soldiers conducted direct-fire simulations, movement drills, and defensive actions immediately after landing, mirroring scenarios used in contingency planning for northern and Arctic environments.

North Wind 26 runs from January 20 to February 3 and is focused on improving interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces operating in cold and mountainous regions. The training is held annually in Hokkaido, where terrain and climate closely resemble conditions that could be encountered during operations in Northeast Asia.

As noted by the U.S. Army, the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated to provide the service with a dedicated cold-weather and Arctic-capable force. The unit’s participation in North Wind 26 reflects the Army’s effort to rebuild large-scale airborne and light infantry capabilities in environments that limit mechanized movement and logistics support.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force took part in the exercise alongside U.S. troops, integrating ground maneuvers, communications drills, and logistical coordination following the airborne drop. Japanese units practiced receiving and operating with U.S. forces immediately after insertion, a key element of bilateral defense planning for the region.

North Wind is one of several recurring joint exercises between the United States and Japan that emphasize combined operations under realistic conditions. The exercise is designed to align tactics, techniques, and procedures between the two forces while testing their ability to operate as a combined formation during high-intensity scenarios.

The 11th Airborne Division has increasingly been used as a forward-deployed element for exercises in Alaska, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific, reflecting a broader shift in U.S. Army force posture toward cold-weather and expeditionary operations. The division’s role includes maintaining airborne proficiency, light infantry maneuver capability, and integration with allied forces.

By conducting a large airborne drop in Hokkaido, the U.S. Army demonstrated its ability to deploy combat-ready forces rapidly into Japan in support of alliance commitments. The exercise also tested airlift coordination, ground reception, and sustainment under winter conditions, which are often the limiting factors in real-world operations.