F-22 makes appearance at SK training exercise

uk.reuters.com...

So some F-22's showed up at Osan AFB, South Korea today. This wouldn't be the first time F-22's are deployed to a region to diffuse local tensions, there have been several appearances across the middle east the past few years. These training events are always so conveniently scheduled.

(Reuters) - The United States sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea on Sunday to join military drills aimed at underscoring the U.S. commitment to defend Seoul in the face of an intensifying campaign of threats from North Korea. The advanced, radar-evading F-22 Raptors were deployed to Osan Air Base, the main U.S. Air Force base in South Korea, from Japan to support ongoing bilateral exercises, the U.S. military command in South Korea said in a statement that urged North Korea to restrain itself. "(North Korea) will achieve nothing by threats or provocations, which will only further isolate North Korea and undermine international efforts to ensure peace and stability in Northeast Asia," the statement said.

reply to post by Pants3204


Baby Kim wants to show off his silly little toys? How about some f-22s for you? Those are real toys son! We can sabre rattle in America too!

where are the carriers ? that's usually a good clue. if they are nowhere near, it's all a dog and pony show. if they are nearby, there may be something to this

Any opinion on what DPRK really wants? Sure it makes Un look rough and tough, and I'm sure his people appreciate it. But what else?

Does he put out the story that the US has backed down (true or not) and he's now the king of the peninsula?

Is he looking for some concession? If so, does he tell the US "Hey, give me something, even if it's symbolic, and I'll make this go away?" The he could claim victory and go back to the "US backed down" story.

I just don't understand him.

reply to post by syrinx high priest


G,day mate. re your carriers. think someone did a thread last week showing 5 or so all double parked. always figured, when you blokes start parking your carriers and go on leave we are all in deep trouble. why. the nations that dont like us/you will start pushing at us. someone will sneeze and then all friggin hell will break loose.

Update

Air Force lifts F-22 flight restrictions
by BRENDAN MCGARRY on APRIL 5, 2013

The Air Force lifted flying restrictions on many F-22 fighter jets after upgrading their oxygen system and life-support equipment, the service said in a statement.

The move comes days after the U.S. military flew a pair of the aircraft to South Korea amid escalating tensions with the North, whose young leader Kim Jong Un has declared a state of war on the peninsula and readied missiles for a possible attack.

The timing of the Air Force’s April 4 statement “is strictly coincidental” and unrelated to the joint military exercises the U.S. is conducting with South Korea, said Kelly Sanders, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command. The command is based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and oversees the F-22.

Source:

Air Force F-22 resumes normal flight operations
Posted 4/4/2013 Updated 4/4/2013
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

4/4/2013 - Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. -- The Air Force's F-22 Raptor has resumed normal flight operations after modifications were completed across the fleet to aircrew life-support equipment, including the upper pressure garment and related hoses, valves and connectors. Completion of this task eliminates the need to restrict flight operations to remain within a 30-minute flying distance from an airfield suitable for landing.

F-22 crews have also resumed their aerospace control alert mission in Alaska after the Automatic Back-up Oxygen System was installed in Elmendorf-based aircraft. Altitude restrictions have also been incrementally removed for F-22s that have received the ABOS modification. Altitude restrictions for training flights remain for non-ABOS equipped F-22 aircraft; however, those restrictions will be removed as each aircraft is modified.


www.acc.af.mil...

reply to post by this_is_who_we_are

The timing of the Air Force’s April 4 statement “is strictly coincidental” and unrelated to the joint military exercises the U.S. is conducting with South Korea, said Kelly Sanders, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command. The command is based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and oversees the F-22.

Sorry I don't even need 2 lines of text for this unbelievable quote here....

reply to post by Chrisfishenstein


No kidding. Just like that Joint Chiefs meeting with SK Military Srs. Just coincidental. Wink, wink.

reply to post by syrinx high priest


There are currently three at sea, although one is on her way home. Lincoln just moved to Norfolk for refueling (four year job), Enterprise is gone of course. Nimitz just started work ups, Eisenhower is in the Gulf, Washington just went in for a 6 month maintenance cycle in Japan, Stennis is transiting home from the Gulf.

The Navy has screwed the carrier maintenance program to hell and gone and now it's biting them hard, with no carriers available.

As for the F-22 deployment, two of them is huge news? Hardly. Two would be hard pressed to be a major threat, and with only 16 missiles at any given time between them aren't going to be a major player in this game.