U.S. Air Force to deploy Raptors to Japan, Guam

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) --  The Air Force is deploying two contingents of F-22A Raptors to the Pacific theater this month for approximately 120 days.

Current plans call for 12 of the fighters to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan, from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and another 12 to deploy to Andersen AFB, Guam, from the 525th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. More than 500 personnel will accompany the aircraft.

The deployments support United States Pacific Command's Theater Security Packages in the Western Pacific. They follow the recent departure from the theater of two deployed squadrons of F-22As, which are also supporting U.S. PACOM's TSP.

In April, twelve fighters from the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB left Kadena AB, and fourteen fighters from the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf left Andersen AFB.

These new deployments are the fifth and sixth in the Pacific theater for the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. The F-22A features a combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability. 

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