U.S. will send fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters to Japan to replace F-15 Eagle

The Japanese island of Okinawa, where the U.S. Air Force base is located, will not be without American fighters.

Here's What We Know

We wrote that the United States has decided to withdraw its fourth-generation McDonnel Douglas F-15C/D Eagle all-weather fighters from Kadena Base. These are the only Eagles in service equipped with modern AESA radars.

The U.S. plans to remove 48 aircraft of the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons from the airbase within two years. U.S. Air Force officials said they would send rotating squadrons to Okinawa.

Thus, fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters will be deployed at Kadena Air Base. Aircraft from Alaska will be the first to be flown to Japan. They will stay at the military facility for six months.

About a dozen F-22 Raptor planes are expected to arrive in Japan within weeks. A roughly comparable number of F-15 Eagle fighters will depart Okinawa for the United States.

Source: The Defense Post, Nippon

Image: Military