Hawaii is much more than defense of Japan. It is US Pacific Command, and also Space Command (SPACOM).
In the event of theater action in East Asia or the Pacific, all the battlefield data is pumped back to the Generals and Admirals inside those Hawaii command bases.
In recent years the center of the action is shifting more to Guam, probably at least in part to shorten the comm links.
Both of these would be amongst the most strongly defended points in the world.
Hawaii is much more than defense of Japan. It is US Pacific Command, and also Space Command (SPACOM).
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Yes of course it is DUH.
I already had a long enough post on the subject and didn’t think I needed to elaborate any further that there are plenty of reasons for the plane to be in Hawaii.
Good list of reasons.
If you follow what US Strategic Command does (the old SAC from the Cold War) you’ll see that they constantly deploy bomber missions around the world.
This shows our adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, et. al) that we have global reach.
The Strategic bombers in our inventory (B1, B2, B52) can deliver nuclear or conventional payloads from a stand-off of hundreds of miles.
The fact that they can fly around the world with aerial refueling, shows that we can send a missile into a window of a building anywhere on the planet.
Sleep well, Patriots.