The 94th FS, along with members of the Virginia Air National Guards 192nd Fighter Wing, are deploying to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a theater security package being sent to the Western Pacific. "This deployment is an excellent avenue to ensure that all facets of our unique brand of air power are able to perform at a moments notice," said Lt. Col. Adrian Spain, 94th FS commander.

 

"Many of our pilots and maintainers have not experienced this type of deployment with the Raptor, so it will be an opportunity to prove our ability to respond anywhere, anytime." This is the first overseas deployment for the 94th FS since transitioning to the F-22 Raptor. As part of their preparation for the deployment, the squadron worked with the 27th FS, who returned from their deployment to Kadena in April.

 

"They captured all of their lessons learned and passed them on to us to help make sure the Spad deployment is even better," said Lt. Col. Pete Fesler, 94th FS director of operations. Specifically, the squadron learned what type of cargo and spare parts to bring to ensure the jets are working at their optimum performance, said Colonel Fesler.

 

They also prepared for the type of training they will conduct during the deployment. The 94th FS plans to train with and against the F-15 Eagles based at Kadena, as well as the Japan Air Self Defense Forces and the U.S. Navys F/A-18 Super Hornets. The squadron will be able to practice the way they would fight - as part of a coalition or joint team. "Weve been working for a long time toward this deployment," said Colonel Fesler. "Its a great opportunity for the Spads to throw their hat in the ring."

 

เป็นการประจำการชั่วคราวครับ ครั้งแรกเมื่อต้นปีนี้เป็นฝูงบินขับไล่ที่ 27 ซึ่งได้เดินทางกลับสหรัฐไปแล้วเมื่อเดือนเม.ย. แต่การประจำการชั่วคราวครั้งนี้เป็นของฝูงบินขับไล่ที่ 94

 

ทั้งนี้เป็นการฝึกซ้อมเพื่อหาประสบการณ์ให้กับนักบินทั้ง 2 ฝ่ายคือสหรัฐและญี่ปุ่น เพราะจะมีการฝึกซ้อมระหว่าง F-22 ต่อสู้กับเครื่องบิน F-15 และ F/A-18

 

ก็คิดว่าคงเคยได้ยินข่าวว่าเครื่องบิน F/A-18 ที่ติดตั้งเรด้าห์ใหม่  APG-79 สามารถยิงเครื่องบิน F-22 ตกในการฝึกซ้อม

Senator Daniel Inouye, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said this price included the cost of creating an export version of the most advanced U.S. fighter, built by Lockheed Martin Corp. This assumes production would begin in four to five years, with deliveries in seven to nine years, according to two sources familiar with the letter.
Rob Blumenthal, a spokesman for Inouye, confirmed the senator had sent letters on the F-22 issue to the ambassador, Ichiro Fujisaki, and to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. He declined to release the letters or discuss their content.
The sources, who asked not to be named since the issue is still far from decided, said the U.S. Air Force had reversed its opposition to F-22 exports after studying the issue of F-22 exports again over the past four to six months.
The estimated cost is far higher than the roughly $150 million paid by the Air Force for its last batch of fighters, but the price tag would come down considerably if Congress decides to add funding for more U.S. F-22s to the fiscal 2010 budget, the sources said.
"That would help quite a bit because it would avert the cost of restarting the production line once it had stopped," said one of the sources.
Gates in April said the Pentagon would halt production of the F-22 fighter at 187 airplanes, after ordering four more in fiscal 2009 that ends Sept. 30.
Top Air Force officials say they support Gates decision given budget constraints, but had pushed in the past for as many as 60 more, or a total of 243.
Creating an export version of the F-22 fighter would also keep the door open to a possible resumption of F-22 production for the U.S. Air Force in the future.
Japan for years has expressed interest in buying two squadrons of its own F-22s, which could translate into orders of 40 to 60 more airplanes for Lockheed.
Foreign sales of the F-22 fighter are banned under an amendment by House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey that was passed in 1998, but recent North Korean missile launches and continued interest by Japan in buying the F-22 may be softening congressional opposition, particularly since the F-22 production line is now nearing a shutdown.
The sources cited growing support for dropping the export ban, noting that tens of thousands of jobs were at stake around the country.
"Theres decent support, but its not a slam-dunk," one said.