沖縄・嘉手納にＦ２２巡回配備　米軍から通知、Ｆ１５順次退役

　浜田靖一防衛相は１日の記者会見で、沖縄県の米空軍嘉手納基地（嘉手納町など）に今月上旬から、十数機のＦ２２戦闘機が暫定的な措置としてローテーション配備されると明らかにした。現在常駐しているＦ１５戦闘機の老朽化に伴うもので、米側から体制変更の通知があった。
　浜田氏によると、米軍は、最終的な体制について検討中の段階としつつ「Ｆ１５を約２年間かけて順次退役させ、より高い能力を有する恒久的な部隊に置き換える」と日本側に説明。当面、ステルス性能の高いＦ２２を半年単位の巡回方式で嘉手納基地に展開させる方針という。（2022/11/01-17:26）

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Tuesday that about a dozen F-22 stealth fighters will be deployed rotationally to the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.
   The U.S. military will begin the deployment as a provisional measure early this month as F-15 fighter jets currently stationed at the base are aging. Tokyo was informed of the move from the U.S. side.
   According to Hamada, the U.S. military said that it will retire its F-15 jets at the base gradually over the next two years and instead station permanent units with more advanced capabilities, while its final plan on fighter deployment is still being developed.
   The U.S. military plans to deploy F-22 stealth fighters on rotation at the Kadena base on a semiannual basis for the time being, Hamada added.
   About a dozen F-15 jets will return to the United States within a few weeks, while around the same number of F-22 fighters will be sent over to the base.