SEOUL – Several F-22 stealth jets from the U.S. Air Force have landed at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, South Korea, signaling a potential ramp-up in joint military readiness amid ongoing regional tensions. The arrival of these advanced aircraft was confirmed by the Pentagon’s Defense Visual Information Distribution Service earlier this week, which also posted photographs of the jets on its website.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the deployment of the F-22 Raptors underscores the Pacific Air Forces’ commitment to enhancing command and control capabilities across the Indo-Pacific. This marks the first publicized arrival of F-22 jets in South Korea since their last deployment for the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition in October of the previous year. Military analysts suggest that the deployment may precede joint air drills with South Korea’s F-35A fighters, though official plans have not been disclosed.