Posted at 9:49 a.m., Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Stealth fighters might come to Hickam, Inouye says
Advertiser Staff
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Air Force is close to officially selecting Hickam Air Force Base as the home for a squadron of the world's most advanced stealth jet fighter: the F-22 Raptor, a news release said."Basing the F-22s at Hickam is contingent on the successful completion and approval of all environmental studies required under the National Environmental Policy Act," Inouye said in the release." Air Force officials have made it clear to me that they definitely favor Hickam as an operational base for this new generation of high-tech jet fighters.
"Final approval of the environmental impact statement will allow a squadron of 18 F-22 aircraft to be assigned to the Hawai'i Air National Guard. The F-22s would replace the Guard's aging F-15 Eagles."
Inouye added: "The F-22s will further ensure that the Hawai'i Air National Guard will continue to have the best 21st-century military technology that our nation can offer."
