The U.S. Air Force has deployed additional F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to Kadena Air Base in Japan as part of its ongoing effort to maintain high-end airpower coverage in the western Pacific. The news comes amid broader changes in the region’s fighter and defense posture in response to Chinese military modernization and aggression. The deployment, which was announced on May 5, sees F-22s from both the 90th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and the 27th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia arriving at the Okinawa base.
The deployment comes as the Air Force continues replacing Kadena’s aging fleet of permanently stationed F-15C/D Eagles with rotational fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. Meanwhile, Kadena awaits the eventual arrival of the F-15EX Eagle II. The decision is significant given the continued Chinese activity near Taiwan and the East China Sea, where Kadena would likely play a central role in any major regional contingency.
Why Send the F-22 So Close to China?
F-22 Fighter. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
Located on Okinawa, roughly 400 miles from Taiwan, Kadena is the largest and most important U.S. Air Force installation in the Indo-Pacific region and serves as a critical hub for tactical aviation, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, and rapid-response operations.
What the Deployment Includes
According to a DVIDS release from the 18th Wing, the F-22 deployment will integrate with other aircraft operating from Kadena.
“The F-22 Raptor is the Air Force’s premier fifth-generation air superiority fighter, combining stealth, advanced sensors and unmatched maneuverability to dominate contested environments. Its ability to detect, track and engage adversaries at extended ranges—while remaining difficult to detect—enhances survivability and control of the air domain,” the statement reads.
The F-22 is the U.S. Air Force’s primary dedicated air superiority platform and was specifically designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace while engaging enemy aircraft at long range. The aircraft combines low-observable characteristics, advanced radar and sensor fusion systems, and supercruise capability, enabling it to sustain supersonic flight without afterburners. Its deployment to Okinawa is particularly relevant because the western Pacific is increasingly viewed as one of the world’s most contested air environments due to China’s expanding missile and fighter capabilities.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot, soars through the sky during a demonstration practice Feb. 27, 2020, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The Heritage Flight Training Course is a training course for all single-ship aerial demonstration teams prior to the upcoming summer air show season. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Captain Kip Sumner)
The Air Force said the deployed F-22s will operate alongside reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, and other fourth- and fifth-generation fighters already rotating through Kadena. The deployment also includes integration with joint and allied forces operating in the region, particularly Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force.
Images released alongside the announcement showed F-22s taking off and operating from Kadena on May 5 during the rotation.
Why Kadena Matters
Kadena has become increasingly important as tensions between the United States and China continue to rise over Taiwan. The base sits close to several potential flashpoints, including the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, and serves as one of the most heavily fortified American air hubs in the region.
For decades, Kadena hosted permanently assigned F-15C/D Eagle fighters as part of the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons. However, the Air Force began retiring those aircraft in late 2022 after it was determined the aging fleet had become too difficult and expensive to sustain.
Since then, the Air Force has relied on a rotational model involving F-22s, F-35s, F-16s, F-15Es, and other aircraft to maintain continuous fighter coverage over Okinawa while modernization efforts continue. And the rotational model plays an important role, complicating adversary planning by regularly changing force composition at Kadena, thereby introducing uncertainty about which capabilities are present at any given time.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul “Loco” Lopez, Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Demonstation Team commander, flies the F-22 Raptor, demonstrating its combat capabilities at FIDAE (Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio) in Santiago, Chile, April 7, 2018. The Raptor is a multirole fighter capable of supporting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions worldwide.
That strategy is not uncommon in the Indo-Pacific, where U.S. and allied forces focus on unpredictability and operational flexibility under the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment framework.
Meanwhile, China is rapidly expanding its own advanced fighter inventory, including the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter. Beijing has significantly increased air and naval operations around Taiwan in recent years, with large-scale exercises and frequent incursions into Taiwan’s defended airspace becoming more common.
The F-15EX Transition
The current fighter rotations are intended to bridge the gap until Kadena receives permanently assigned F-15EX Eagle II fighters. In July 2024, the Pentagon announced plans to base 36 F-15EX aircraft at Kadena Air Base to replace the retired F-15C/D fleet.
While the F-15EX is not a stealth aircraft, it incorporates substantially upgraded radar systems and electronic warfare capabilities- along with modern networking architecture. Compared to older Eagle variants, it also offers greater weapons capacity.
The transition, however, has faced delays. In February 2026, reports confirmed that the delivery of Kadena’s first permanently assigned F-15EX fighters had slipped because of production disruptions connected to a Boeing strike in St. Louis. But even with those delays, the Air Force has continued deploying F-15EX aircraft temporarily to Okinawa for familiarization and operational training ahead of the coming permanent basing.
F-15EX Eagle II. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The deployment is part of an ongoing U.S. effort to maintain continuous high-end combat airpower in the Indo-Pacific while modernizing forces and preparing for a potential future conflict against a near-peer adversary.
“The rotation of advanced fighters through Kadena maintains a persistent and potent U.S. presence: ready to respond decisively, deter aggression, and shape the future of air dominance in the Pacific,” the recent update explains.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
