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

Posted on: Jan. 14th, 2007 || Source: estripes.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa -- 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.

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

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