U.S. military forces stationed in Okinawa Prefecture next week will participate in comprehensive disaster preparedness drills, Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine said Friday. It will be the first time for U.S. forces to take part in such drills.

During the drills, which will be held Thursday, the U.S. forces will receive telephone and fax reports outlining disaster conditions. They will participate in air traffic control -- making contact with aircraft from the Self Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard and prefectural police -- using Kadena RAPCON, a radar approach control system, at the U.S. Air Force Kadena Base.

The U.S. forces will not deploy vehicles or aircraft during the drills, which are expected to feature around 2,000 participants.

In January, Okinawa Prefecture and the U.S. forces stationed there produced a joint manual regarding cooperation on rescue operations during disasters. They also agreed that the United States would participate in the next drill, prefectural fire department officials said.

The U.S. radar system controls military and civilian air traffic to and from the Kadena Air Base, the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, Naha International Airport and two other small airports on islands off Okinawa.