TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - US Air Force'S F-22 Raptor fighter jets have arrived at Kadena Air Base, the American air base in Japan, marking the latest fighter rotation supporting operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
While deployed to the Keystone of the Pacific, the F-22s will operate alongside heavy, reconnaissance, and fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft assigned to the Air Force's 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, strengthening the U.S. military's airpower in the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon said.
The F-22 Raptor supersonic stealth fighter is the U.S. Air Force's premier fifth-generation air superiority fighter, combining stealth, advanced sensors and unmatched maneuverability to dominate all-weather environments. Its ability to detect, track and engage adversaries at extended ranges - while remaining difficult to detect - enhances survivability and control of the air domain.
During the deployment, F-22 aircrews and maintainers will integrate with the 18th Wing's operations and maintenance groups, as well as joint and allied partners, to refine tactics, strengthen interoperability and sustain readiness for real-world contingencies, the U.S. War Department said.
Together, this mix of aircraft and personnel reinforces the United States' commitment to defend Japan under the U.S.-Japan security alliance and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region, it added.
'Modernizing airpower in the Indo-Pacific remains a top War Department priority. Fighter rotations at Kadena Air Base ensure a continuous, credible presence: sustaining today's mission while preparing for the future arrival of the F-15EX Eagle II,' says a press release.
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