US to deploy 12 stealth fighters to Okinawa

Wednesday 17th December, 04:00 PM JST

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cplyut at 06:09 PM JST - 17th December

stealth means you can't see them on radar. our enemies already know where our bases are. try getting in an f-15 and shoot down an f-22 and see how easy it is.

and it's not cold war mentality. the US protects Japan not just from Russia but from China, NKorea, etc.
billclinton at 06:11 PM JST - 17th December

nice tourist attraction. I would love to see a stealth in action.
Baldrick at 08:30 PM JST - 17th December

"and it's not cold war mentality. the US protects Japan not just from Russia but from China, NKorea, etc."

It is in the US national interest to keep hostilities in this area of the world on edge. The US arms sales to South Korea and Japan amount to sums compareable to the GDPs of some smaller nations.

It is a cold war mentality. It is in the best interest of the military industrial complex to keep up hostilities as it was during the cold war. The fear promoted by the MIC, keeps the west and its allies technically strong and in control of natural resources. This gives us our technical advantage, and overall advantage.
Crucades at 09:16 PM JST - 17th December

I love reports like these, it highlights true US foreign policy.

“These deployments underscore the U.S. commitment to Japan as a vital regional partner and signal U.S. resolve to ensure stability and security throughout the Pacific region,” said the statement.

yea we wanna protect you...

The F-22 is seen as a possible replacement for the Air Force’s fleet of F-15 fighters, but budget crunches have put the future of the stealth fighters in question.

we just dont want to spend a lot of money to do so...

Sending 12 jets to Japan for 3 months is just a publicity stunt and a training exercise.
electric2004 at 11:00 PM JST - 17th December

Mod: Something is wrong with the numbers. 140Mio US$ seems a reasonable price tag for ONE F22 airplane. Then 20 of them are 2800 Mio US$. In this light, 50 Mio US$ is a lame joke.
OssanAmerica at 01:40 AM JST - 18th December

These movements coincide with the current need to once again remind NKorea that they are still very vulnerable. Once they come back in line at the talks, the Raptoes will head back stateside again.
pathat at 02:10 AM JST - 18th December

Ossan: This deployment is directed more at the expanding military power, growing economic might, and political clout of China, and not the impoverished, failed state of North Korea.
EurajReturns at 02:22 AM JST - 18th December

Altria:

What good are stealth fighters if you tell everyone they're coming?

It's like the J-police announcing they're going to raid a company in advance.

.... Not really. It's more like the Japanese Police Force saying they have new "raid technology" or what not before it's used. Your parallel would make it seem like the U.S. is already attacking people in the region with the jets. : /
ca1ic0cat at 02:31 AM JST - 18th December

Sounds like a move to get NK back to the negotiating table, I would guess.

Of course if some folks are all hot and bothered about the amount of money the US spends on defense for Japan and SK then perhaps they would like to comment on the military budgets for China and NK? Perhaps lil Kim should spend some of his nuke budget feeding the NK people?
Adamwesti at 02:42 AM JST - 18th December

The US defense department spends more money on defense than the entire world combined! When are minds going to be reduced from this war mentality?
OssanAmerica at 03:07 AM JST - 18th December

Ossan: This deployment is directed more at the expanding military power, >growing economic might, and political clout of China, and not the >impoverished, failed state of North Korea.

Disagree. The overall US strategic posture in East Asia especially the allianes with Japan and Australia are part of the counterbalance to check Chinas' growing military and possible expansionist intentions. However a small number of F-22s shuffled to closer proximity to Pyongyang openly announced is merely a show for the NKoreans.
MeanRingo at 06:26 AM JST - 18th December

I think the US is in Biz here because they need to make sure the ol' Black Van crew never really gets there way.
sangetsu at 10:50 AM JST - 18th December

>

"and it's not cold war mentality. the US protects Japan not just from Russia but from China, NKorea, etc."

It is in the US national interest to keep hostilities in this area of the world on edge. The US arms sales to South Korea and Japan amount to sums compareable to the GDPs of some smaller nations.

It is a cold war mentality. It is in the best interest of the military industrial complex to keep up hostilities as it was during the cold war. The fear promoted by the MIC, keeps the west and its allies technically strong and in control of natural resources. This gives us our technical advantage, and overall advantage.

Yes, I suppose the military industrial complex is in collusion with North Korea and it's on again/off again nuclear program, or China's routine threats against Taiwan, which is both a US and Japanese ally. We can also add the fact that Japan has no standing military, and pays America to maintain a military presence in the country.

We can't forget that America isn't the only country with a "military industrial complex".
YuriOtani at 11:32 AM JST - 18th December

12 aircraft are a joke when the amount of Aircraft that China, North Korea and Russia have that can reach Japan. I would think that these aircraft would be outnumbered by at least 100 plus to 1. The problem is that China, North Korea and Russia still threaten America and Japan. These three would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against both if they thought it would be a success.
YadotNapaj at 10:56 PM JST - 22nd December

You got that right, Yuri.

That's why we have to keep a symbolic sword at their throats.

"A fighter jet that cannot be detected on radar."

It gives them somehthing to think about.