Republicans push back on Okinawa F-15 withdrawal – By Bryant Harris, Stephen Losey and Joe Gould (Military Times) / Nov 1, 2022
WASHINGTON — Four key Republicans on Capitol Hill are questioning the Air Force’s decision to replace two permanent F-15C Eagle fighter squadrons in Okinawa with rotational forces.
In a new letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the lawmakers expressed concern about the plan and asked for a briefing on the decision to remove permanent forces from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin — the top Republican on the Armed Services personnel subcommittee — sent the letter on Tuesday. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, the former ambassador to Japan, and Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, also signed onto the letter.
“This decision would involve half of the roughly 100 USAF fighters in Japan,” the lawmakers wrote. “While we agree with the need to modernize the Air Force’s fleet in order to counter the rising threat of the People’s Liberation Army, we are concerned with reporting that indicates that there will be no permanent presence to replace the Okinawa F-15s. Instead, USAF plans to send F-22 fighters from Alaska to Okinawa on only a rotational basis.”
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