Twenty-five (25) F-22 Raptor aircraft have been deployed to the Guam and Tinian Islands by the USAF, sending a message of strength and deterrence to the United States to China. The reason for the development of the F-22 Raptor is the exercise “Pacific Iron 2021- A Dynamic force employment operation to project forces” which is expected to be carried out by the end of the month.
Photo by the website www.offers4army.com
More than 35 aircraft (plus 10 F-15E Strike Eagles) and 800 crew will be involved. The US Marine Corps (USMC) based in Japan will also take part in the exercise.
The presence of the F-22 Raptor and the “Pacific Iron 2021” exercise take place at a time when tensions between the US and China remain high, with a focus on South China Sea issues and China’s territorial claims to Taiwan, which China considers its breakaway province.
The presence of the F-22 Raptor will reassure Taiwanese officials, as China recently opted for mass infiltration and violation of Taiwan’s airspace with 28 fighter jets.
