:: Okinawa leaders call arrival of 12 F-22A Raptors 'disappointing'... ::

| Wednesday June 19, 2013

Okinawa leaders call arrival of 12 F-22A Raptors 'disappointing'...

Recent F-22 headlines

	Raptors causing damage to property?

	Less Airshows in 2012

	2 More 'Physiological Incidents' Related to F-22

	F-22 Upgrades in Deficit Crosshairs

	Operation 'Odyssey Dawn' started @Libya

	F-22 Raptor may see first combat action in Libya [update 03-19]
	news archive»

Island officials voiced a chorus of protests Wednesday when they learned a squadron of the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced fighter will be arriving here.

11-01-2007 - KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa -- Twelve F-22A Raptors will be deployed to Okinawa in early February for several months of training with Air Force and Navy assets and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, the Air Force announced Tuesday.

The squadron, based at Langley Air Force Base, Va., will be part of the U.S. Pacific Command’s security package for the Western Pacific, the Air Force stated, adding that about 250 personnel will accompany the aircraft.

The deployment could last up to five months, according to the Air Force. The F-22As, designed to eventually replace F-15 fighter jets, became operational in December 2005.

On June 12, they were deployed for the joint Northern Edge exercise in Alaska. The deployment to Okinawa will be the first outside the United States.

Gen. Paul V. Hester, Pacific Air Forces commander, told The Associated Press the Raptors will provide him with options to face all contingencies.

The Air Force classifies the F-22A as a “transformational combat aircraft that is effectively invisible to threats, cruises at supersonic speeds (and) is highly maneuverable.”

The fighters evade radar detection much like B-2 bombers and can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Eventually, F-22A Raptor squadrons will be based permanently at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.

Each Raptor cost $360 million, including research and development costs, making it among the world’s most expensive jets.

The deployment comes as Okinawa officials had expected less training activity from Kadena-based jets.

As part of a bilateral pact signed in May, flight training of Kadena-based F-15s is to be relocated to six Japanese air force bases on Japan’s mainland. The move was designed to lighten the heavy U.S. military presence on Okinawa.

U.S. officials said no specific threat prompted the F-22A deployment. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it’s designed to compensate for lessened deterrence power in Asia due to U.S. operations in Iraq.

Yoritaka Hanashiro, Okinawa Governor’s Office director general, criticized the deployment as going “directly against the effort to reduce the burden of local communities,” which had been looking forward to dispersing F-15 training off Okinawa.

Mitsuko Tomon expressed the same objection Wednesday. She is mayor of Okinawa City, which, with the towns of Kadena and Chatan, host the air base.

“With no prospect in sight yet for reducing the burden on the local communities,” Tomon said, “this further growth of operations at the air base increases the fears of our residents.”

Kadena Town Mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi called the F-22As’ arrival “disappointing and disheartening.” He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told him of the deployment on Tuesday and 18th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Harold Moulton confirmed it in a Wednesday morning phone call.

“Very disappointing,” Miyagi said, calling the F-22s deployment “an extreme nuisance to the local communities.”

Source: Stars and Stripes, Pacific edition
Photo: USAF

COMMENTS:

i take it they're worried about anothing Pearl Harbor or something?

Wade | posted on Jan 18, 2007 @ 03:47

extreme nuisance my .. we are thare to portet them.

james | posted on Jan 18, 2007 @ 16:43

if it were here in colorado, it would be an honor. This man is obviously in the wrong business

Co-861 | posted on Jan 19, 2007 @ 02:24

I would personally kill to have a squd of 22s near where I live, but I can understand how the average shmuck might find the noise a bit irritating.

Brad | posted on Feb 02, 2007 @ 01:30

I know the noise from all the aircraft can be hard to handle at times. But what I am not sure the general public realizes,..is that when the U.S. millitary presence lessens,...then so does the money in the local pockets. I love Okinawa and, all the people I have met thus far. I would not trade my privliage to be here,..for any other place.

Loni | posted on Feb 05, 2007 @ 12:35

incredibly ungrateful. Then again the f22 disgraces japans pitiful excuse of an airforce.

matt | posted on Feb 07, 2007 @ 17:22

Idiots! There have been m.ive efforts to lessen the military footprint on this island. The Okinawans see any new hardware or increase in manpower as "attention getting". North Korea has, in the past, seen such events as acts of aggression towards them and their safety. These poeple have concerns that North Korea react militarily against Japan for allowing such a thing. While this may not make sense to Westerners, it is very real and understandable in the eyes of these people. There has been agreements in place for several years now, to limit the noise that Kadena's fighters can make and limit the hours they are allowed to fly. Both the Americans and Japanese agreed to these rules. Now, the Americans have gone right back to as if there were no agreement at all. Making the noise, launching at 0500 in the morning and many times at 2100 or later at night. The Okinawans never asked for this, the Japanese Government forced it on them. They have the right to be pissed and voice it. We, Americans, do not have any right to just do whatever seems right to us, on this island.

A guy | posted on Feb 09, 2007 @ 01:11

By the way, Japanese has a very formidable Air Force. Flying both F-15's of American build, as well as F-15 models designed and built in Japan. Not to mention the F-2 (modernized F-16) and still the F-4 Phantom. The have a host of other fighters as well as very effective trainers. If they employed their Air Force in combat (Constitutionally illegal), they would be a force to be reckoned with! Their pilots are also U.S. trained in many cases.

A guy | posted on Feb 09, 2007 @ 01:14

I think the Japanese are a little like Israel. Yes, their Air Force rocks. And with the US there it is a double detterence to North Korean and Chinese designs on Japan, Taiwan and the Pacific.

The F22s are the next best thing to actually taking out North Korea's nuke facilities which are making bombs. If nothing is done, like Iran, these nukes will make their way into the hands of terrorists. Then Bam Bam.

Oz Guy | posted on Feb 09, 2007 @ 15:31

This is sort of a win loose situation for the okinawans. the coming of the F22's creates monetary gains for them, yet the noise and threat from N. Korea worries them. I suppose it's just a matter of them deciding wether the pros or cons of the whole situation better suits them. But me personally, i'd LOVE a fleet of F22's across the stsreet my house,

JAMES D. | posted on Feb 09, 2007 @ 17:05

What's your opinion? (all fields required)

Name:

Email: (stays invisible)

Comment:



		cool Learn more about the F119-PW-100 thrustvectoring jet engines that power the Raptor
		tech F-22A AN/APG-77 radar can target multiple threaths. Find out how.
		3D F-22A simulation
		How to make a plane disappear from radar
		USAF F-22A pilot recruitment trailer