US plan potential withdrawal of F-16s from Misawa

Obama's inexperience in national security and foreign policy are coming to fruition on this one. Misawa and Kadena are a critical backbone to deter the North Koreans.

The article states as a possible option to rotate F-35's on a tdy basis. That is a ridiculous notion for the short term as the acft is not even in production.

Another ridiculous point in the article is how the local communities would benefit. Every time a base closes it has a profound negative affect on the local community. Yeah, the locals do not like the noise and some of the other negatives of having US military base in their backyard. Once you bring up the economic support the base is providing their community, they quickly change their tune.

squirrel wrote:Obama's inexperience in national security and foreign policy are coming to fruition on this one. Misawa and Kadena are a critical backbone to deter the North Koreans.

The article states as a possible option to rotate F-35's on a tdy basis. That is a ridiculous notion for the short term as the acft is not even in production.

Another ridiculous point in the article is how the local communities would benefit. Every time a base closes it has a profound negative affect on the local community. Yeah, the locals do not like the noise and some of the other negatives of having US military base in their backyard. Once you bring up the economic support the base is providing their community, they quickly change their tune.

Could not agree more..

Spot on!!

It is actually the best thing they could do now.

WOW.........maybe one location but 2!!!!

Misawa actually has a better relationship with the local community while there seems to be alot of aggravation at Kadena since 80% of US bases in Japan are on that little island. Removing the F-15s still leaves AWACSs and KC-135s but then again - if the F-15s arent there why have the tankers and AWACS there? That being said the 35th FW and the "WW" will once again lose a place -

That brings the thought where are the CJs going to go? Guam? Eielson? or was this all part of a plan to put SEAD capable Block 50s to Osan??? 36FS is converting to Block 50s.. maybe them Guard units looking for a mission may get some jets!

Lots of possibilities out there. And by the way - December 1994 as I was sitting with the 18WG Vice Commander at the time he had predicted that within the decade we may not have Kadena ... he was a little off.

Misawa is way too far north in Japan to restraint anything but the Russians. That beeing said, they would offcourse be quick to move south and withing striking distance to N.Korea.

This is probably a move to pressure a better rent agreement with the Japaneese government.

N.Korea beeing what they are, and South- and North Korea technically still at war, I doubt that there will be any removal of US units from current installations.

My 2cc

Hello all,

As I see it - IF the plan goes through - the current "WW" Block-50s could go to the 8th FW in Korea replacing their current Block-40s that - in turh will go to the ANG / AFRC.

Another scenario could be that the "WW" Block-50s could go to the remaining two squadrons at Hill AFB, UT also replacing Block-40s that again could go to the ANG / AFRC.

I doubt that the Block-50s at this point would go directly to the ANG / AFRC.

Greetings,

Henrik.

This makes it sound as if the US doesn't really consider China and N. Korea threats anymore. Heck, right now with all the deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan now would be the opportune time for China to seize Taiwan and for North Korea to take the South. Maybe someone in the O'ministration suggested we could pull those jets (F-16s and F-15s) out of the bases and put them on aircraft carriers. For a lot of people "F-16" is a generic term for "fighter jet".

Then again we've significantly down sized troop levels in South Korea and nothing has happened so far. Maybe they're waiting to see how low we can go on troop presence in that theater. Seems we're getting lower all the time.

The trouble with N.Korea is that IF you where to end up in a shooting war with them, the US/S.Korean alliance would beat them in the end.

But the cost of taking over a nation so totally run down as NK would break SK's back. They debated doing this following the unification of Germany, and came to the conclusion that a unification of N- and S.Korea would be too costly!

Siesta wrote:...but then again - if the F-15s arent there why have the tankers and AWACS there?

Along with the USAF stuff, the Gas Passers can also help any Navy and USMC stuff in the area as needed. They can also provide gas to any flight transiting that part of the Pacific that needs a top-off.

And the AWACS can still do "other things" in the area besides it's basic role of airborne surveillance and air battle management. It's within easy patrol range of Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. And with help from the tankers, can get to the Korean Peninsula fairly easily.

Boman wrote:Misawa is way too far north in Japan to restraint anything but the Russians. That beeing said, they would offcourse be quick to move south and withing striking distance to N.Korea.

This is probably a move to pressure a better rent agreement with the Japaneese government.

N.Korea beeing what they are, and South- and North Korea technically still at war, I doubt that there will be any removal of US units from current installations.

My 2cc

There is no rent agreement for bases in Japan - the govt of Japan pays for the up keep. As reported in the star and stripes - the Misawa Perfecture held an emergency meeting as the community there has a good relationship with the base. Along with the US F-16s.. there is a Navy P-3 contigent and also a JASDF F-2 squadron.

A typical fighter squadron has 300 personnel (thats ops (pilots) and then the maintainers).. thats 600+ for two squadrons. Add the typical support structure of a wing - another 2000 and then you add families to the mix.. thats alot of US Citizens just under the 35FW. I believe that 30% of the families live off base so thats a big chunk for the local economy and the base itself employees hundreds of Japanese.

Yeah - thats a possibility that all US ROK based F-16s could become Block 50s. It'll be true multi-role capability. However SEAD capable F-16s have that as a primary mission and will need to refine their DOC statements and training/certification of pilots.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:

Siesta wrote:...but then again - if the F-15s arent there why have the tankers and AWACS there?

They aren't there just to service the Eagles. Along with the USAF stuff, the Gas Passers can also help the Navy and USMC guys in the area as needed. They can also provide gas to any flight transiting that area of the Pacific that needs a top-off.

Yeah I flew with the 961AWACS and worked with the 18WG there but alot of ops besides training was off station. Also we didnt need tankers to get to Korea 5th Air Force AOR is more of a support area with forces moving forward. Unless there was a direct operation in the vicinity the refuelling of USN and USMC assets was done off mainland japan.

Of interests is the statement "some" F-15s not all of them.

http://www.toonippo.co.jp/news_too/nto2 ... 090921.asp
mentions: in 1970, when the US military in Japan was down-sized, and all US squadrons removed from Misawa AB to CONUS or ROK, half of the 2,000 Japanese employees at Misawa AB were fired.

Misawa AB currently has about 70 JASDF planes and about 50 US planes. One USAF C-12, about 10 USN P-3C, and about 40 USAF F-16.

] while there seems to be alot of aggravation at Kadena since 80% of US bases in Japan are on that little island.

Some of the Okinawa people are separatists who are probably still upset that the Japanese Empire annexed their ancestors' Ryuukyuu Kingdom.
OTOH, sometimes, maybe once in a year or two, frustrated Chiba or Narita people also launch harmless rockets into the Narita IAP, to protest its expansion, or its initial construction at all.

Just a thought...... maybe this is being proposed as an excuse to build an export Raptor for Japan? If we were to leave, it would give Japan a better excuse to get the Raptor's it wants for national defense. Any thoughts???