TX096 日米共同防衛戦略関連

八機のMQ9のオペレーションが米軍により鹿屋基地で開始されます。

Demonstration flight of the U.S. military’s MQ9 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft conducted

　F-22が嘉手納基地に到着しました、米軍の老朽化しているF-15フリートの代わりになるようにというのが米軍の意図です。

F-22s arrive at Kadena, as aging F-15s prepare to depart

　本日米国は、中間選挙の日です。予測では、バイデン政権の多くの失敗がもとで、民主党の勢力が弱まり、共和党がマジョリティーステータスを回復する予定です。下記の記事は、国防という課題にどのように立ち向かっていくべきか、共和党と民主党のその姿勢の違いを物語っています。

An airman marshals a F-22A Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing into position at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2022. The F-22s began arriving at Kadena as the base prepares to fly its older F-15s back to the U.S. to be retired. (Airman 1st Class Alexis Redin/Air Force)

F-22s arrive at Kadena, as aging F-15s prepare to depart

Stephen Losey

　米国空軍は退役に向かう老朽化したF-15に代わり、日本の嘉手納基地への戦闘機の派遣を開始しました。

　太平洋空軍の発表によると、アラスカのエルメンドルフ・リチャードソン統合基地の第3飛行隊からF-22Aラプターが11月4日に嘉手納基地に到着しました。

　嘉手納基地は、老朽化したF-15CとDイーグル戦闘機の2個飛行隊を米国に帰還させ、退役させる準備を進めているところです。空軍は先月、第18飛行隊のF-15を今後2年間かけて段階的に退役させると発表しています。F-15が退役すると、空軍はより新しい第4世代、第5世代の戦闘機を嘉手納にローテーションさせ、その役割を補う計画です。

　少なくとも今のところ、このローテーションは一時的なものです。国防総省は、嘉手納に戦闘機を維持するための長期的な計画や、最終的に再び戦闘機を常駐させるかどうかを決めようとしているところである。検討されている計画には、F-15EXやF-35Aなど、F-15CやDを超える能力を持つすべての戦闘機が含まれています。

　PACAFによると、新たに到着するF-22は嘉手納に既に駐留している部隊や航空機と連携し、「安定した戦闘機能力」を維持し、米国が日本を防衛できる状態を保つという意図を示しています。嘉手納に配備されたF-22の数はすぐには明らかにされていません。

　しかし、第18飛行隊の48機のF-15と予備の戦闘機を永久的な代替機なしに撤退させるという決定は、物議を醸しています。共和党の主要議員4人は先週、ロイド・オースティン国防長官に書簡を送り、空軍の計画に懸念を表明し、国防総省が戦闘機の抑止力と戦闘能力をどのように代替する計画なのか、より詳細な情報を要求しています。

　「国防総省の決定は、中国共産党だけでなく、インド太平洋地域の同盟国やパートナーに対しても誤ったシグナルを送ることになると懸念している」と、フロリダ州のマルコ・ルビオ上院議員は述べています。フロリダ州のマルコ・ルビオ、テネシー州のビル・ハガティ、ウィスコンシン州のマイク・ギャラガー各議員は、「国防総省の決定は、（中国共産党だけでなく）インド太平洋地域の同盟国やパートナーにも誤ったシグナルを送るものだ」と批判しています。フロリダ州のマルコ・ルビオ、テネシー州のビル・ハガティ、ウィスコンシン州のマイク・ギャラガー、テキサス州のマイク・マッコール両議員は、11月1日の書簡で強く批判しています。

　ブルーの文字をクリックすると関連詳細情報にアクセスできます。その為に、英文の原文を下記に記載してあります。

WASHINGTON — The Air Force has begun sending fighter jets to Kadena Air Base in Japan to take the place of aging F-15s headed for retirement.

F-22A Raptors from the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska arrived at Kadena on Nov. 4, Pacific Air Forces said in a release.

Kadena is preparing to fly its two squadrons of aging F-15C and D Eagle fighters back to the United States, where they will be retired.

The Air Force announced last month that it would retire the 18th Wing’s F-15s in phases over the next two years. As the F-15s depart and are retired, the Air Force plans to rotate newer, more advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters into Kadena to fill their roles.

At least for now, the rotations will be temporary. The Defense Department is still trying to decide on a longer-term plan for maintaining a fighter presence at Kadena, and whether to eventually station fighters there permanently once again. The plans being considered include all fighters with capabilities beyond that of the F-15C and D, including the F-15EX and the F-35A.

The newly-arrived F-22s will work with units and aircraft already based at Kadena to maintain “steady-state fighter capabilities” and keep the U.S. ready to defend Japan, PACAF said. It was not immediately clear how many F-22s had been deployed to Kadena.

But the decision to withdraw the 18th Wing’s 48 F-15s and spare fighters without a permanent replacement has proven controversial. Four key Republican lawmakers last week sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressing concern about the Air Force’s plans and asking for more information on how the Pentagon planned to replace the fighters’ deterrent value and combat capability.

“We are concerned that [the Defense Department’s] decision sends the wrong signal, not only to the [Chinese Communist Party], but also to our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” Sens. Marco Rubio, of Florida, and Bill Hagerty, of Tennessee, as well as Reps. Mike Gallagher, of Wisconsin, and Mike McCaul, of Texas, wrote in the Nov. 1 letter.

下記は、少し古いニュースですが、今日の状態に至るまでの経緯を理解するのに役立ちますので、ご一読ください。

NEWS | July 22, 2009

525 EFS Raptors, pilots train with Kadena F-15s

By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente 36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – Two F-22 Raptors from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron returned here July 15 from Japan following training with F-15 Eagles at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

The 525th EFS, deployed here from Elmendorf as part of U.S. Pacific Command’s Theater Security Packages in the Asia-Pacific region, was able to demonstrate the Raptor’s ability to forward deploy to another location and practice defensive counter air tactics with the F-15s from the 44th Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB.

“Basically we used air assets to protect an area,” said Capt. Robert Ice, 525th EFS F-22 pilot and assistant chief of mobility. “Our tasking was to protect the ‘homeland’ from simulated adversaries. They came to our location, but we prevented them from getting by us.”

Ice said he was glad to be able to participate in the exercise with the F-15s.

“This type of training is a great opportunity to get together and learn about both of the airframes’ capabilities,” he said. “Training is limited, but it’s a great experience to be able to show up and operate smoothly in an unfamiliar location.”

The F-22 pilot said that while both aircraft are exceptional, putting the two together allows the aircraft to carry out missions more effectively.

“When we fight with F-22s and F-15s, as a team, we are more lethal,” said the captain.
Capt. Jeff Haney, 525th EFS F-22 pilot and assistant chief of weapons, said he enjoyed the opportunity to conduct dissimilar flying as well.

“This was like a normal training sortie, but with different jets,” Haney said. “It was a great way to obtain realistic training with other organizations.”

As the flight lead for the training, the captain said he was able to gain some experience by planning the mission.

“I definitely gained a lot from a mission planning perspective,” Haney said. “I think planning the mission in another airspace was a good experience. I was able to talk with pilots from other bases and get their perspective on training.”

Haney said those who were involved all gained a better knowledge of the F-22 and F-15.
“I think being able to fly dissimilar training with different squadrons and aircraft provided the pilots a lot of experience from the training scenario,” he said. “Each jet has different capabilities, and we are able to gain knowledge and experience from the scenario.”

While the two 525th EFS Raptors were in Japan, the 94th EFS, deployed to Kadena AB from Langley Air Force Base, Va., hosted and supported the 525th EFS aircraft and personnel.

In addition to the 525th EFS being able to train with the 44th FS, two 94th EFS pilots were given the chance to train with the 525th EFS.

Both F-22 squadrons are deployed as part of the PACOM commander’s Theater Security Packages in order to provide security and stability to the Asia-Pacific Region.