Posted on 10/27/2022 8:33:53 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
The US air force plans to replace its entire fleet of F-15 fighter jets based in Okinawa, Japan, with a “rotational” force, a shift that some American and Japanese officials worry will send a dangerous signal to China about deterrence.
The air force intends to retire two squadrons of ageing F-15 Eagles that have been permanently based in Okinawa, according to six people familiar with the situation. The decision has triggered alarm in some parts of the Japanese government and the Pentagon because the air force does not intend to replace them with a permanent presence in the near term.
The move will involve half of the roughly 100 air force fighters in Japan and is part of a modernisation programme. Critics are concerned about possible gaps that could weaken the ability to deter China.
“The message to China is the US is not serious about reversing the decline in its military forces,” said David Deptula, a retired F-15 pilot and former vice-commander of US Pacific Air Forces who blamed years of under-investment for a lack of aircraft. “This will encourage the Chinese to take more dramatic action.”
The air force plans to send fifth-generation F-22 fighters from Alaska to Okinawa’s Kadena, a critical air base in the region, for a six-month rotation after the F-15s’ departure from the base next year. But several people said the force had not worked out future rotations, which raised concerns about possible gaps.
The air force said it could not discuss the plan for security reasons, but Ann Stefanek, the air force’s spokesperson, said it would “continue to maintain readiness in support of our US-Japan alliance”.
US Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees US forces in Asia, did not comment. Japan’s defence and foreign ministries did not comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
The T-34 and Sherman tanks were proof of that.As one German anti tank gunner said,”We knocked out 20 Shermans when we ran out of shells. Then here comes tank 21.”
Biden, Blinkan, Sullivan, Hairbrain Harris, Rice, Obama, Etc. Continuing their stupidity and treason since the beginning of the Century.
Unfortunately, it’s probably not going to change anytime soon.
We didn’t build enough F-22s is the lesson.
bttt
𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘍-22𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯.
Over the past couple of years I’ve read claims here and there that Lockheed destroyed all the tooling after production of the F-22 ceased. If you ever wanted to start production again that would certainly slow things down.
Isn't that thanks to the Kenyan Muslim punk bastard?
Anyone still believe Slo Joe and China Mitch aren’t totally owned by the CCP?
We aren’t selling out Japan.
Japan’s Deep State did that a while ago.
Anyone else starting to think there was more to Abe’s assassination than we thought...
Uhhhh.. Japan is buying 98 F-15EX’s.
Hey! I have a great Idea!.....
well I guess the isolationist faction here are happy.
Concur.
hank instead Sen Obey (D-WI) for his amendment blocking overseas sales, which knocked out any profitability and made the planes more expensive than the bomb truck, jack of all trades F-35 - which turned out to be way more expensive later.
A couple of hundred more F-22’s would be”cheap” now. AND, we could fly them and stay current and combat ready without worrying about total airframe time.
The thing about that is the ones flying now are essentially the “A” version - had production continued with the planned buy of 700+ and overseas sales, the present “C” versions would see retirement and the start of the “D” versions, theoretically speaking. Or something like that, with the F-35 being used in its original role as a bomb truck.
The USAF will soon announce their Gen 6 Fighter:
Recent war gaming (computer) exercises have shown that F-22s would be much more effective in a China vs Taiwan war.
F-22s stationed at Kadena could respond much quicker than those stationed in Alaska.
Long range plan is to station the first Gen 6 fighter squadron at Kadena.
So we are surrendering the Pacific to China.
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