"Continued Rotational Deployment of F-35 and F-22"
Newsweek reported on the 9th (local time) that the United States is deploying state-of-the-art 4th and 5th generation fighter jets at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
Ali Stomer, spokesperson for the 18th Wing, stated that the rotational fighters currently stationed at Kadena Air Base include the F-22A Raptor from Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base in Alaska, the F-16C Fighting Falcon from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, and the F-35A Lightning II from Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
This advanced weapons deployment appears to be part of efforts to modernize the forces at Kadena Air Base, which is the closest U.S. military base to Taiwan.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced a plan to improve U.S. Air Force capabilities in Japan last July amid growing threats from North Korea and intensified competition for dominance with China in the Indo-Pacific region. Specifically, the plan includes withdrawing the F-15 C/D fleet that has been stationed at the base since 1979 and replacing it with 36 new F-15EX II fighters.
The U.S. Air Force 18th Wing stationed at the base stated that it will maintain rotational deployments of 4th and 5th generation fighters during the transition period of air power to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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