This work, BH 25-2: 18th CES conducts HAZMAT decontamination training, by SrA Alexis Redin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Get your daily fix of Air & Space Force news delivered right to your inbox every day There's no more reliable source for news about your Air & Space Forces Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association A Japanese employee at Kadena Air Base died after suffering a medical emergency on the Okinawa installation last week The undisclosed medical emergency occurred on April 22 during a Month of the Military Child event on base the wing said in an unsigned statement Monday A previous wing statement identified the event as an annual helicopter demonstration Medical personnel took the employee to an off-base hospital and colleagues of our Team Kadena member during this difficult time,” 18th Wing commander Brig “Their presence and service made a difference within our community The wing declined to identify the worker or provide further details It acknowledged questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Monday but did not immediately provide responses This work, Kadena re-opens base roller rink, by SMSgt Nadine Barclay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Air Force is expected to begin deploying F-15EX Eagle II fighters to the home of the 18th Wing in spring 2026 The first of the multirole fighters are expected to arrive at Kadena between March and June next year Nicholas Evans told reporters Friday in a hangar on the base’s flight line Brandon Wolfgang spoke at a news conference ahead of America Fest A firm arrival date is being determined between the Air Force and aircraft manufacturer Boeing as production continues I expect we’ll get more fidelity on exactly when the first couple aircraft will show up,” he said the Air Force announced it will permanently station 36 F-15EX Eagle IIs at Kadena to replace the base’s fleet of 48 F-15C/Ds part of a broader plan to position more advanced fighter aircraft across Japan over the next several years features next-generation avionics and networking capabilities flies faster and carries a larger payload with greater range than other fighters The first lot of F-15EXs was estimated to cost the Air Force $90 million each Breaking Defense reported in September 2023 The Air Force initially planned to acquire 144 of the aircraft but reduced the number to 98 in its fiscal year 2025 budget request Air & Space Forces Magazine reported in August Congress has proposed 122 aircraft in its fiscal 2025 budget The first operational F-15EXs were unveiled in July at the Oregon Air National Guard base in Portland marking the first time a National Guard unit received a new weapons system ahead of the active-duty Air Force we’ll bring out the mayors and the city councils and let them see the aircraft firsthand,” Evans told reporters The ceremonial final flight of Kadena’s F-15C fleet took place Aug Kadena still has “a couple of F-15Cs left,” Evans said “We are using them to continue to train our weapons loaders and our maintainers because there’s a lot of commonality between the F-15EX and the F-15C,” he said Since beginning to phase out its F-15C/D fleet in December 2022 the wing has relied on a rotating force of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters to counter aggressive moves by China and Russia The deployments will continue “throughout this F-15C to F-15EX transition,” Evans said “As the EX start to arrive and build in numbers I would expect the rotational squadrons to start to decrease both in timing and tempo,” he said rotational forces at Kadena have included F-35A Lightning IIs from the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron of the Vermont Air National Guard; F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base S.C.; and F-22 Raptors from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Each rotational squadron typically brings 12 to 14 aircraft to Kadena Evans also said the wing has briefed all commanders on the base about proper notifications for nighttime training A unit conducted training involving simulated explosions and gunfire at night between Feb leading to complaints in nearby Kadena town “I’ll make a decision based on the importance of that training versus the impact of the local community,” he said Kadena Air Base briefly ordered all its residents to shelter-in-place early Sunday morning due to unspecified space debris The overnight notification declared “Alarm Red” for all personnel the wing said on its official Facebook page at 8:17 a.m The siren and voice alert system on the base also sounded The notice went out via email at 1:21 a.m. according to a screenshot of the notices posted by the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook group An “Alarm Green” notice declaring all-clear was sent via email about 10 minutes later according to a Facebook post on the Kadena Spouses Group The wing’s Facebook post said “space debris that was identified in the area” prompted the alarm but provided no further information about the debris “The base’s safety protocols were activated and after careful monitoring the situation was cleared within minutes,” the post stated “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this brief event.” The wing did not respond to emails and phone calls on Sunday seeking comment After hearing good reviews about a new ramen restaurant outside of Kadena Air Base Chuka Soba Tsuki no Akari is a sleek shop on Gate 2 Street that is popular and familiar to Kadena residents and employees I stood under the shop’s curtain waiting behind a customer purchasing a food ticket from the machine He seemed to be having a hard time deciding on what to order Tsuki no Akari’s menu had many items to choose from a variety of ramen bowls like soy sauce red hot and spicy and several chahan fried rice plates but I remembered a local TV show covering the restaurant and raving about the shop’s fried rice and I ordered the “Stamina Chahan” for 970 yen (approx.$7) which includes an “assari (light-flavored)” soup cooked with chicken Golden rice topped with a fried egg and a brown starchy sauce served in a perfect mound on a round plate was placed before me its savory garlic but sweet taste hit the spot Pieces of garlic and Chinese chives added a nice kick to the flavor and the texture I was so fascinated with the food that I forgot that I would need to stop by my office on Camp Foster later that day Now I was worried about smelling like garlic for the rest of the day I was in too deep and knew I’d have to get a face mask to shield my coworkers from the garlicky remnants of my delicious lunch I learned that “Cheese Chahan,” a cheesy fried rice is a popular menu item and  another reason to make sure to have lunch here again I don’t guarantee you won’t be indecisive when it’s your time to order at Chuka Soba Tsuki no Akari you’ll likely remedy that with plans to return for more Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan This work, BH 25-1: Kadena Airmen demonstrate readiness capabilities, by SrA Jonathan Sifuentes, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, The watchful eye of Kadena, by A1C Arnet Tamayo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright The Air Force deployed a second group of F-35s to Kadena Air Base this month reinforcing its fighter presence at the key base in the wake of retiring all operational F-15C Eagles from the installation The Air Force is investigating how an unmanned aerial vehicle rolled off a runway while taxiing Monday at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa An MQ-9 Reaper deployed to the base was towed back to a protected aircraft shelter after the incident “A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause,” she wrote said the Reaper stopped on the south runway at 9:20 a.m Emergency vehicles were seen gathering around the aircraft “We are confirming details of this incident with the U.S “We will share information with related municipalities after hearing from them We will continue dealing with this matter appropriately.” Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity White smoke was spotted near the aircraft’s engine after it stopped and it was towed to a hangar around 1 p.m. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Tuesday citing a camera it installed near the base The wing did not identify the Reaper’s squadron it said Reapers from the Air Force’s 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron were operating from Kadena Eight Air Force Reapers moved to Kadena in late 2023 from Kanoya Air Base on Kyushu MQ-9A Reapers with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 from Marine Corps Base Hawaii are deployed to Okinawa Joseph Butterfield said in an email Tuesday The aircraft “provide real-time situational awareness to U.S and regional allies in support of mutual defense,” he wrote Butterfield declined to say how many were deployed to Okinawa The defense bureau in August said fewer than six Marine Reapers were at Kadena long-endurance aircraft used primarily for surveillance It may also carry Hellfire missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs and costs $56.5 million each F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) This marks the completion of the latest U.S Air Force fighter deployment cycle to the Pacific region serves as a central hub for Agile Combat Employment operations This concept enables squadrons like the 421st EFS to project combat power alongside U.S The 421st EFS will be working in conjunction with additional F-35As from the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron They will operate alongside the 18th Wing’s Operations and Maintenance Groups throughout the deployment “The black widows are thrilled to be back and flying with our allies and partners here at Kadena,” said Lt “Our unit values the distinctive training opportunities afforded by our deployment to the Indo-Pacific and is eager to contribute to the mission.” Air Force’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft and combines stealth technology with sensor fusion and unmatched situational awareness Regular aircraft rotations to Kadena ensure that the 18th Wing maintains the flexibility and readiness required to deliver credible and lethal airpower These deployments are a key measure in deterring potential acts of aggression in the region The 18th Wing remains committed to adhering to all applicable bilateral agreements with the Government of Japan regarding noise abatement Visiting aircrews are briefed on local procedures and mission planners continue to consider measures to minimise the impact on local communities Modernising capabilities across the Indo-Pacific theatre is a top priority for the Department of Defense The ongoing rotations at Kadena demonstrate a sustained commitment to maintaining a robust fighter presence until the arrival of the F-15EX Source: U.S. Air Force Cookie Policy Copyright © 2025 Defence Industry Europe | mady by: geekon.eu We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Two Air Force fighter squadrons arrived at Kadena Air Base last week as part of the service’s ongoing rotational deployments to the home of the 18th Wing on Okinawa F-35A Lightning IIs with the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base and F-15E Strike Eagles with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base began landing at the base between Thursday and Sunday The deployments mark the latest in a series of rotations since the Air Force began phasing out Kadena’s aging F-15C/D fleet in late 2022 “The men and women of the 355th EFS are excited to be back at Kadena Air Base,” 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander Lt “I have spent the majority of my career in [Pacific Air Forces] and am looking forward to enhancing our squadron’s proficiency in the asymmetric advantages we share in this [area of operation].” The Air Force did not disclose how many aircraft were deployed or how long they will remain The 18th Wing acknowledged queries from Stars and Stripes on Monday and Tuesday but has not yet responded to questions about the deployment said the rotational deployments are key to maintaining readiness and deterrence in the region “Kadena’s commitment to regional deterrence is ironclad,” he said in the release “Rotational aircraft are a normal part of Kadena’s operations and their presence ensures the continuation of our long-standing mission to defend Japan and maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific.” Kadena has relied on a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons to carry out its air-defense mission is capable of long-range strike missions while defending itself against air threats Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base deployed to Kadena on a rotational basis in 2023 The final operational flight of Kadena’s F-15C fleet in the Pacific took place Jan following a ceremonial sendoff last August Okinawa — More than 60 high school students staged a walkout here Friday to protest Pentagon policies affecting diversity initiatives the third such demonstration at a Defense Department school since Feb The Kadena High School students — children of airmen and DOD employees — walked out at 10 a.m for a 15-minute protest in front of the school principal James Bleeker wrote in a letter emailed to parents that afternoon Stars and Stripes counted at least 80 students in photos taken from about 250 feet away “It’s kind of frightening because I’ve never done anything like this before,” she told Stars and Stripes outside the school before the walkout Field said she coordinated the protest with Bleeker a spokeswoman for Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific confirmed in an email Friday that the demonstration was organized with school administrators Bleeker referred questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Friday to Ferguson “DODEA respects the rights of our students to engage in peaceful expressions of their opinions through speech and other ways as long as it is done respectfully does not interfere with the rights of others and does not disrupt learning in the school,” he wrote in his letter to parents “Our school is committed to providing a safe environment where everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to help others.” Ferguson barred Stars and Stripes from entering school grounds to cover the protest DODEA requires parental consent for student photographs The school did not know in advance which students would participate The school was unable to determine whether it had “appropriate image release authority” for students taking part in the walkout Kinnick principal Kira Hurst told students and parents in a Feb 5 email that the school was directed to “pause planned activities and events for cultural observances” in compliance with DOD guidance Kadena High has not notified students or parents of specific program changes Field and other students said activities such as a door-decorating contest for Black History Month were canceled junior Mary Hardy called DODEA’s policies “a step back from progress made towards representing and celebrating marginalized communities,” according to a copy of her speech she emailed to Stars and Stripes Students erupted in cheers after her remarks said she walked out to show support and provide “power in numbers.” She said a Black History Month program she organized had to be moved to the Schilling Community Center after she was not allowed to hold it at the school or any enlisted clubs on base “We couldn’t do it anywhere,” she said outside the school after the walkout “I don’t know why it got taken away; I feel like it’s kind of stupid.” said she hoped it would inspire other DODEA students to stage their own walkouts “We believe that political policies shouldn’t dictate what we can and cannot learn in the classroom,” she said.