US Deploys Stealth Fighters to Okinawa

U.S. Deploys Stealth Fighters to Okinawa

February 17, 2007 1:19 AM EST
Associated Press

TOKYO - The U.S. took its newest and most expensive stealth fighter on the road Saturday, deploying the F-22 to an air base on the southern Japan island of Okinawa for its first overseas mission.

The first two of a dozen F-22s roared into the Okinawa skies from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for a three-to-four month deployment to show "the flexibility that U.S. forces have to meet our ongoing commitments and security obligations throughout the Pacific," the U.S. military said in a statement.

Bringing the jets to Japan is a way of showing off the fighter's strengths in a region with a complex security balance that is being challenged by the rapid growth of Chinese and North Korean military power.

"It's a very formidable asset," said Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of the U.S. forces in Japan. Wright added that it is important for the F-22 pilots from Langley to get the experience of flying abroad and training with the Japanese.

Though Wright, speaking to reporters in Tokyo before the arrival, said there are no plans to regularly bring F-22s to Japan after the current mission ends, F-22 fighters are scheduled to be deployed in Alaska and possibly Hawaii, which would give a significant boost to the Air Force's fire power in the Pacific.

The U.S. is not alone in boosting its air capabilities in Asia.
The arrival of the planes - the rest were scheduled to arrive Sunday - comes less than two months after China unveiled its J-10 fighter, which is believed to be one of the most advanced used by any air force in the world today, though it is not seen as a serious technological rival to the F-22.

...the Rock (Okinawa)....is only 400 miles from the coast of China....checkmate...:)...

...but ..on the other hand....the people of Okinawa are the sweetest people on face of the earth......."wax on - wax off" ....:)....

The arrival of the planes - the rest were scheduled to arrive Sunday - comes less than two months after China unveiled its J-10 fighter, which is believed to be one of the most advanced used by any air force in the world today, though it is not seen as a serious technological rival to the F-22.
As in: "My dicks bigger than your dick", typical American swill. I love my country, but not the stinkin government. The govt. lies and creates tension all around the globe, Hey assholes take that, our planes are better than yours, Na Na Na Na Na Na!