Defence

US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor stealth fighters will operate outside the USA for the first time next month, when a squadron of the aircraft will be deployed to Kadena airbase in Japan. The first operational F-22 unit, the 27th Fighter Squadron based at Langley AFB in Virginia, will train with the Japanese armed forces as well as locally based US Air Force and Navy units during the deployment, which will also support the US Pacific Command's regional Theater Security Package. The USAF's F-22 fleet will also be flown on future operations from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Holloman AFB, New Mexico and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.