F-16C/D Preventing Falcons from the U.S. Air Drive 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, arrived at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 16, 2023, to assist the on-going phased return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15C/D Eagles to the US. Collectively the varied array of fighters, alongside joint and allied forces strengthen operational readiness to defend Japan whereas guaranteeing a free and open Indo-Pacific by way of a sturdy presence of dynamic fighter plane. F-16s will work along side Kadena-based property and F-22A Raptors deployed from the third Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, to make sure continued steady-state fighter capabilities.
“These short-term deployments convey a various set of platforms to the area and supply the chance to combine, prepare, and function with our joint forces and worldwide Allies and companions,” stated Col. Henry Schantz, 18th Operations Group commander.
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“We’re excited to be right here supporting our allies and companions within the Indo-Pacific area. We stay up for coaching and working on this uniquely complicated and strategically important area. ,” stated Lt. Col. Shaun Loomis, 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander.
The F-16 Preventing Falcon is famend for its fly-by-wire system, and exceptionally versatile design enabling it to excel worldwide in a spread of each air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. Since Nov. 4, deployed F-22s have employed their distinctive mixture of stealth, tremendous cruise, superior avionics and sensor fusion capabilities to convey air dominance to the Keystone of the Pacific, augmenting the air-to-air capabilities of Kadena’s F-15 fleet. Because the F-16s start operations, they too will combine their distinctive strengths to assist Workforce Kadena deter and, if mandatory, prevail over acts of aggression that threaten peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific.
For many years, Kadena Air Base has served because the keystone of the Pacific. The bottom’s strategic place makes it an important staging location for forces to discourage regional adversaries and undertaking U.S. airpower all through the Indo-Pacific. Because the 18th Wing continues the on-going phased return of Kadena’s fleet of Eagles, the Division of Protection will proceed to keep up a steady-state fighter presence within the area by briefly deploying newer and extra superior plane to backfill the F-15s as they retrograde to the US. Modernizing capabilities within the Indo-Pacific theater stays a prime precedence.
