F-22s Conduct Readiness Exercise at Kadena as F-15EX Arrival Delayed
Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, is hosting a readiness exercise involving F-22 Raptors from the 27th and 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadrons. This exercise, known as Beverly Beach 26-1, aims to enhance combat readiness through agile combat employment principles. The exercise comes as the base awaits the delayed arrival of F-15EX Eagle II jets, initially expected to be operational by now. The F-15EXs are scheduled to arrive in 2027, with a full complement by 2028. The 18th Wing's previous fleet of F-15C/D jets had patrolled the airspace around Okinawa and the South China Sea for years.