Elmendorf Air Force Base, designated PAED and IATA code EDF, is a major United States Air Force installation located in Anchorage, Alaska. It serves as the home of the 3rd Wing, the Air Force's largest combat wing, operating F-22 Raptors and other aircraft in support of Pacific and Arctic missions. In 2010, Elmendorf AFB was merged with the adjacent U.S. Army installation Fort Richardson to form Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), consolidating military operations under a single command. The base remains a critical node for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command activities. While primarily a military installation, the base's airfield has historically supported some military airlift and government operations. Its strategic location along the great circle route between North America and Asia underscores its geopolitical and logistical importance.