F-22 Raptors complete 3-month Pacific deployment

  • Published
  • By Maj. Dani Johnson
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  After almost three months in the Pacific, ten F-22s departed here May 10 upon completion of the first overseas deployment for the Air Force's newest air supremacy aircraft.

The 12 Raptors arrived in February as part of a regularly scheduled U.S. Pacific Command rotational assignment of aircraft to the Pacific. The aircraft and more than 250 Airmen are assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.

"We learned quite a bit about what we need or don't need (when deploying), whether it is parts or people," said Lt. Col. Wade Tolliver, 27th FS commander. "We plan on capturing these lessons and continue to build the 'solution' to deploying the F-22."

While at Kadena, the squadron flew more than 600 sorties. According to Colonel Tolliver, sortie generation was better than he expected with the challenges of getting supplies and support from a home base that is more than 7,700 miles from the deployed location.

"We sustained an incredible utilization rate, and it is a true testament to our maintainers and supply Airmen and all the hard work they do," Colonel Tolliver said.

While in the Pacific, the Raptors trained with aircraft from the 18th Wing to include F-15Cs, E-3s and KC-135s. They also worked with Navy and Marine Corps F-18s and Harriers and Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-4s and F-15s.

"Many of these pilots and aircraft never had flown with the F-22," said Colonel Tolliver. "This gave us a chance to expose the F-22 to our sister services and key allies, allowing all of us to learn how to work together better.

"The F-22 is not here to replace any aircraft but add another capability to the fight," he added.

Another aspect to the deployment was educating both Americans and foreign nationals in the region on the F-22 capabilities. While here, the squadron conducted almost 30 tours and briefings for visiting dignitaries and held three open house tours for more than 4,000 Americans on Okinawa.

According to Colonel Tolliver, all of the Airmen deployed from Langley felt a part of Team Kadena. Regardless of the fact the requirements for the aircraft were different than many of the units were used to, everyone stepped up professionally.

"The 18th Wing is a busy place," he said. "You get a lot done every day and you integrated us into your team without missing a beat, and we appreciate that."

For Kadena, the deployment was also a chance to demonstrate its capability to receive forces and combine dissimilar fighter aircraft into one airpower team.

"This was big for the base," said Col. Mark Henkel, 18th Operations Group commander. "We were able to bring this aircraft into the theater and get it ready to go while never stopping our ongoing missions. It was simply outstanding."