JBER F-22s project air dominance in two theaters

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska  –   As of November 4, 2022, F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s 3d Wing are supporting missions in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The 525th Fighter Squadron arrived this week at Kadena Air Base, Japan for a temporary deployment supporting locally based assets in maintaining steady-state fighter capabilities and enhanced U.S. operational readiness to defend Japan while ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Since August, the wing’s 90th Fighter Squadron is providing air dominance and counter-air capabilities in support of NATO’s Air Shielding mission to increase the air and missile defense posture along the eastern flank of NATO’s alliance. This is purely a defensive mission to shield and protect allied territory and populations and is a key component of NATO’s Deterrence and Defense posture.

“The 3d Wing provides air dominance, global mobility, and command and control for combatant commanders every day,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Jamieson, 3d Wing commander. “We are now in the unique position of delivering combat-capable aircraft to three combatant commanders, in multiple locations. It’s a testament to the strategic positioning and readiness of Alaska-based forces.”

As part of its modernization plan, the United States Air Force is retiring the aging fleet of F-15 C/D Eagle aircraft that has been in service for more than 30 years. The Department of Defense will continue to maintain a steady-state presence at Kadena by temporarily deploying newer and more advanced aircraft to backfill the F-15s as they retrograde to the United States.

The 525 FS “Bulldogs” are the first to backfill the Kadena fleet since the announced retirement.

“The mission is deterrence through presence,” Jamieson told the deploying pilots before departing JBER. “Remain ready, execute the mission, and set the standard for the units who will come after you.”

The F-22 is a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, and is designed to project air dominance, rapidly and at great distances to defeat threats. A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness, and weapons provides first-kill opportunity against threats. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot, and kill air-to-air and cruise-missile threats.