Summary: Kadena Air Base, dubbed the Keystone of the Pacific, is a linchpin in the defense strategy of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region, highlighted by a recent visit from top U.S. Air Force leaders including Secretary Frank Kendall, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, and Chief Master Sergeant David Flosi. Their visit underscored Kadena's comprehensive capabilities—air superiority, aerial refueling, and more—and its critical role alongside allies in regional security. Positioned strategically near Tokyo, Manila, Seoul, and Hong Kong, Okinawa is central to maintaining stability and ensuring free navigation. Amid calls for modernization, the focus is on Agile Combat Employment (ACE) to prepare for evolving threats, emphasizing the importance of innovation and airmen readiness. Concurrently, the deployment of F-22 Raptors to Kadena marks a commitment to advanced airpower in response to the strategic challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, amidst the phased retirement of the F-15C/D Eagles, reinforcing America's aerial dominance in a pivotal region.

Here Comes the F-22 Raptor

Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base has been described as the Keystone of the Pacific. The base’s strategic location makes it a pivotal installation for ensuring the defense of Japan and the free navigation of the Indo-Pacific. 

That point was reiterated April 6 as U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, and Chief Master Sergeant David Flosi visited the facility on Saturday to observe Team Kadena.

"Air superiority. Aerial refueling. Airborne warning and control. Search and rescue. Special Operations. Team Kadena does it all," said Allvin. "It was inspiring to hear firsthand how, alongside our allies and partners, the team projects decisive airpower to ensure regional security."

Okinawa, with its extensive network of air bases and naval facilities, plays a pivotal role in maintaining regional stability and safeguarding vital maritime and aerial routes. It is roughly 900 miles from Tokyo, Manila, Seoul, and Hong Kong. It sits 1,200 miles west of Guam, the American territory that serves as a critical hub for U.S. military operations in the region.

ACE It

However, the visit also came at a time when many are calling for the base to modernize its infrastructure and focus on developing mission-ready airmen for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations in the region.

The Air Force has called for an enhanced focus on ACE and readiness, and the visiting leaders emphasized the importance of innovation and creativity to adapt to any threats to stability and to the security of U.S. allies and partners. Military modernization within the Indo-Pacific theater continues to be a top priority for the Department of Defense. The visit showcased the base’s diverse range of missions and its evolving capabilities while highlighting the need for modern infrastructure to meet mission demands, now and in the future.

"The People's Republic of China is not scared of our hardware, or our technology," Flosi added. "They're scared of our Airmen."

F-22s Back in Japan

The PRC may not fear American technology or hardware, but the air service still deployed its F-22 Raptors, operated by the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons, back to Kadena in late March.  

"While deployed to the Keystone of the Pacific, 19th and 199th FS Raptors will work in conjunction with additional heavy, reconnaissance, and fourth generation fighters, and fifth generation fighter assets that are both augmented to and stationed at Kadena to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region," the Air Force announced.

This most recent deployment of fifth-generation Raptors comes as the 18th Wing oversees the phased retirement of Kadena's fleet of F-15C/D Eagles. The Lockheed Martin F-22 has been increasingly deployed to Kadena in recent years.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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