U.S. to deploy more F-22A in Japan

Posted on: Feb. 22nd, 2007 || Source: news.xinhuanet.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

U.S. to deploy more F-22A in Japan

TOKYO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Air Force's deployment of the most advanced stealth fighter F-22A Raptor at its Kadena Air Base in southern Japan's Okinawa prefecture is expected to continue through May, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.

The information was released earlier in the day by Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma during a session of the Lower House Security Committee.

The U.S. forces deployed ten F-22A Raptors, which belong to the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, over the weekend in Japan. The fighters' arrival has been delayed twice, due to bad weather and technical error. The U.S. Air Force originally said the temporary deployment is to last for three or four months.

The F-22A Raptor, developed as the successor to the F-15 fighter, is capable of supersonic flight and air-to-land attacks. It can also evade radar detection.

The deployment in Japan marked the newest fighter jets' first ever overseas deployment. They will take part in drillings with U.S. Air Force units based in northern Japan and South Korea, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Raptors arrive at Kadena

Raptors arrive at Kadena (2)

Raptors arrive at Kadena (3)

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