The US Air Force sent F-15s based at Kadena AB, Japan, on the island of Okinawa to an Air Self Defense Force base in Japan to conduct training in what the Japan Times reports is the “start of reducing the strain on Okinawa of hosting the bulk of US bases in Japan.” Okinawa residents have protested what they say is excessive noise from current F-15 operations. They were not thrilled when USAF decided to send a cohort of F-22 Raptors to the island for a temporary engagement. US and Japanese officials reached agreement to transfer some training from Okinawa and Misawa AB, Japan, to several small home island JASDF bases.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.