China will freak out: The Air Force is stationing F-22 Raptors and F-16 fighters nearby

What you need to know: Kadena Air Base in Japan has received new rotations of U.S. Air Force aircraft, including F-22 Raptor fighters from Alaska and F-16 Fighting Falcons from South Carolina. This deployment supports ongoing modernization efforts as the base retires its aging fleet of F-15C/D Eagles, a process announced two years ago.

-As Kadena awaits the arrival of new F-15EX Eagle II aircraft in the coming years, the U.S. Air Force maintains a strong regional presence through rotary frontline fighter aircraft such as the F-22 and F-16.

– These steps are aimed at strengthening the US position in the Indo-Pacific in the face of regional security challenges.

New F-22 and F-16 fighter jets will be relocated to Kadena Air Base following the retirement of the F-15

The Keystone of Pacific welcomed a new rotation of aircraft and personnel this week as it continues to prepare for the retirement of its legacy aircraft. Kadena Air Force Base in Japan announced Thursday that “new rotational troops recently arrived from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.” These included fifth-generation F-22 Raptor air superiority fighters flying from the base in Alaska, while multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcons flew in from Shaw.

“Together, they represent the U.S. Air Force’s continued commitment to improving posture and building on the strong foundation in the Indo-Pacific,” Kadena said.

Eagles leave the nest

The arrival of Fighting Falcons and Raptors comes just days after the base confirmed that personnel from the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons and the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron will soon be leaving the nest in Japan following a six-month deployment in support of the installation will modernization efforts.

The newly arrived F-22 will likely replace the 27th EFS's Raptors. The US has increasingly deployed stealth fighters in the region as part of a show of force and to deter Chinese and North Korean aggression.

Operations have expanded as Kadena has begun retiring its fleet of F-15C/D Eagle fighters. The air service first announced two years ago that the aging F-15s would be retired, but the process has moved slowly — and it is unclear how many F-15Cs remain based at Kadena. The U.S. Air Force has continued to deploy various squadrons to the base on a rotating basis to ensure a continued frontline fighter presence.

Kadena is on track to receive up to thirty-six F-15EX Eagle IIs in the coming years, but in the meantime will likely continue to be supported by F-22 Raptors and other fighters deployed from U.S. Navy air bases.

“There will be a lot to learn when introducing a new platform into these environments, and we will likely learn some lessons about the capabilities of the F-15EX,” Gen. Kevin B. Schnider, commander of Pacific Air Forces, told Air & Space Forces Magazine in September. “I don’t think it will be a significant transition to introduce a new platform into Kadena just because the people running that platform already know the business.”

The keystone of the Pacific

Kadena Air Base is located on the Japanese island of Okinawa, which is also home to an extensive network of air bases and naval facilities, all of which play a critical role in maintaining regional stability and securing vital sea and air routes.

The island is about 900 miles from Tokyo, Manila, Seoul and Hong Kong. It is 1,200 miles west of Guam, the American territory that serves as a major hub for U.S. military operations in the region.

In April of this year, the US Air Force conducted a massive “elephant run” with F-15C, F-16C, F-22A, F-35A and other aircraft. The display was intended to demonstrate operational readiness and performance, particularly since new rotational units, F-16Cs and F-22As, had recently arrived.

The exercise also strengthened readiness and teamwork essential to air combat operations. A similar show of force took place in late November 2022 when six different types of aircraft were lined up at Kadena, while another elephant walk was conducted at the base last November.

That means we should experience another elephant walk anytime!

Author's experience and expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based author. He has contributed in more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with over 3,200 published articles over his twenty-year career as a journalist. He writes regularly about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics and international affairs. Peter is also one Contributing author for Forbes and Clearance jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: (email protected).

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