6 U.S. stealth fighters arrive at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa+

NAHA, Japan, Jan. 10 Kyodo - Six of the newest U.S. F-22A Raptor stealth fighters arrived Saturday at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa as part of a three-month deployment in support of U.S. Pacific Command's security obligations in the Western Pacific.

It is the second such deployment within two years of fighters from Langley Air
Force Base in Virginia and follows the earlier arrival of about 250 support
personnel. Another six Raptors are scheduled to arrive at the base on Monday
afternoon.
''The F-22 deployment underscores the U.S. commitment to Japan as a vital
regional partner and signals U.S. resolve to ensure stability and security
throughout the Pacific Region,'' the base said in a media advisory.
The F-22A Raptor, successor to the F-15 fighter, is a stealth fighter that can
avoid enemy detection, cruise at supersonic speeds and is highly maneuverable.
The initial temporary deployment of Raptors, part of the 27th Fighter Squadron,
to Kadena in February 2007 was the first deployment of the fighters outside of
the United States.
The fighters at that time participated in a joint exercise with Japanese Air
Self-Defense Force aircraft.
Meanwhile, the towns of Chatan and Kadena and the city of Okinawa,
municipalities hosting the base, criticized the deployment, saying it would
increase their burden in hosting the base.