The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has deployed F-22 Raptor fighters to Kadena Air Base in Japan, reinforcing its presence at a key Indo-Pacific location while the introduction of the new F-15EX remains delayed.
The aircraft come from the 90th Fighter Squadron in Alaska and the 27th Fighter Squadron in Virginia, forming part of a rotation model the Air Force has used since 2022 to maintain fighter coverage at the base. The service did not disclose the number of jets involved, although local reports indicate around a dozen aircraft arrived in recent days.
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Kadena previously hosted two permanent squadrons of F-15C/D fighters, totaling about 48 aircraft. Those jets, some nearing four decades in service, have been progressively retired, leaving the base without a fixed fighter force.
The long-term plan is to replace them with 36 F-15EX Eagle II fighters. Initial deliveries were expected to begin in 2026, and two early aircraft were sent to Kadena in 2025 for familiarization by pilots and maintenance crews.
That timeline has since slipped. A strike at Boeing’s St. Louis production facility in 2025 disrupted assembly of the F-15EX, forcing the Air Force to postpone deliveries. A revised schedule has not been announced.
In the meantime, the Air Force has relied on rotations of different fighter types, including fifth-generation aircraft like the F-22, to sustain operations at Kadena. These deployments are designed to maintain combat readiness and ensure continuous air defense coverage in the region.
Kadena’s location in Okinawa places it roughly 450 miles from Taiwan, making it one of the closest U.S. air bases to a potential flashpoint in the region. Maintaining a credible fighter presence there is considered a priority as tensions with China remain elevated.
