미국, 오키나와에 F-15EX 고정배치 검토중

[위종민]

가데나에 고정배치중이던 F-15C/D 48기가 철수한 뒤 다른 비행대대를 순환배치중인데 곧 순환배치를 끝내고 다시 전투기를 고정배치할 것을 검토중이라고 합니다. 미 의회 소식통에 따르면 F-15EX 36기를 고정배치할 것 같다고 하네요. 유인전투기 12기가 줄어드는 대신 CCA를 배치하는 방안도 검토중이라고 하고요. 

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-weighs-returning-smaller-permanent-fighter-force-to-Okinawa

U.S. weighs returning smaller permanent fighter force to Okinawa

U.S. weighs returning smaller permanent fighter force to Okinawa

American lawmaker questions rational for downsizing as China threat grows

The U.S. Air Force has been deploying the F-35 and other fighter jets in Okinawa as part of a rotational force.    © Getty Images

RYO NAKAMURA, Nikkei staff writerDecember 18, 2023 05:02 JST

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military plans to resume the permanent deployment of fighter jets at an American base in Okinawa but with fewer planes than before, Nikkei Asia has learned, drawing mixed reactions from lawmakers and experts as the threat posed by China grows.

The U.S. Air Force began in 2022 a phased withdrawal of around 48 aging F-15 Eagle fighters permanently assigned to Kadena Air Base on the main Okinawa island in Japan. To fill the gap until a long-term plan for future posture is devised, the Air Force has been sending F-35, F-22 and other fighters as part of a rotational force.

"I would not expect us to go with rotational forces in perpetuity," Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, said in a virtual interview with Nikkei Asia on Wednesday, confirm‎ing that the service is expected to resume the permanent deployment of fighter planes. Wilsbach did not mention a time frame.

Congressional sources, who were briefed on the Air Force's plan, told Nikkei Asia that the service intends to deploy 36 F-15EX aircraft, a one-quarter cut from the fleet before the phased withdrawal began.

Wilsback disputed the argument that the tactical value of Kadena has decreased as American bases in Okinawa are seen as a possible target of China in a crisis because of its proximity, stressing that Kadena "is becoming even more important" for a quick response.

"If they're shooting weapons at us at Kadena, then we could be projecting power from Kadena Air Base," he said.

"Our agile combat employment philosophy and strategy disperses aircraft away from Kadena," the general continued, meaning that fighters could continue to execute air operations and avoid missile strikes in a crisis by relocating quickly from Okinawa to other locations in the western Pacific.

The Air Force has worked to expand access to outposts in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia. The strategy is intended to distribute aircraft from bases in Okinawa and other locations near China to evade Beijing's precision strikes, a major shift from post-Cold War strategy.

Jeffrey Hornung, a senior political scientist at Rand Corp., welcomed the planned permanent deployment at Kadena.

"Having a permanently deployed number of planes in theater provides planners with a better understanding of what types of capabilities we have at our immediate disposal [in peacetime], which is always going to be a plus compared to rotational deployments," Hornung said.

Rotational deployments could create a vacuum of fighter planes between rotations and do not guarantee a permanent presence, risking the perception of the U.S. weakening its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, experts warn.

Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican from the state of Virginia and vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told Nikkei Asia that he supported the permanent deployment of aircraft in Kadena but was concerned about the downsizing.

"I support a permanent basing of F-15EX aircraft at Kadena but am concerned about the Air Force's initial plan to station only 36 new aircraft, replacing the 48 divested ones," the lawmaker said. "I look forward to an operational analysis from the Air Force to support this reduction in forward-based presence."

The Air Force did not respond to a request for comment on details of the plan in Kadena.

Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, echoed Wittman's position.

"The F-15EX is a substantial upgrade over the F-15C version that was there before, so I think it is positive that the permanent deployment is being re-established. Nonetheless, a decrease in numbers will raise some eyebrows," Cooper argued.

The F-15EX can shoot missiles from a greater distance and has advanced electronic warfare capabilities.

The decreasing number of manned fighters could be offset by uncrewed platforms.

Wilsbach suggested that the U.S. will consider sending next-generation drones known as combat corroborative aircraft to Okinawa. The uncrewed aircraft will take commands from a fighter pilot in the manned platform and operate semiautonomously.

Asked whether deployment of such drones to Kadena is on the table, the general responded, "absolutely." He also noted that the drones do not have to be stationed at the same place with manned aircraft, noting that they can fly in from elsewhere.

Wilsbach said combat collaborative aircraft can do many things "to complicate the battle space and create chaos for your adversary." They could execute multiple missions including strikes, intelligence gathering, jamming and decoys, he said.

But Wittman stressed it will take time for combat collaborative aircraft to be operational in mass, indicating they would not be relevant to a contingency in the Taiwan Strait in the late 2020s.

"The issue is that [combat collaborative aircraft] are not expected to be fielded in adequate quantities until the end of the decade," Wittman said. "This delay may pose a risk, considering the escalating threat, capabilities and anticipated aggressive actions by our adversaries in the Pacific theater against our partners and allies."

[백선호]

1980년 기록을 보면 이 때는 오키나와에 F-15가 72대 있었네요.

[백선호]

독일 Bitburg에도 72대, 네덜란드(?) CP New Amsterdam이란 곳에 18대가 있었고요.

[위종민]

냉전시절답게 배치된 물량이 어마어마하네요. A-10 기지들은 영국에 있는데 전쟁 일어난 뒤에 서유럽으로 날아갈 모양이었나 봅니다.