A contingent of U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and C-130 transport aircraft departed Brunei’s Rimba Air Force Base on August 8, marking the latest phase in an ongoing series of deployments across the Indo-Pacific region.
The F-22s, belonging to the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, along with Air National Guard C-130s, left for the Philippines before returning to their current forward operating location at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
This movement follows the completion of Exercise Pitch Black in Australia, highlighting the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to maintaining a robust presence in the region. The aircraft had arrived in Brunei on August 6, using the nation as a strategic stopover point.
During their brief stay in Brunei, the deployment garnered high-level attention from local military leadership. Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force, personally visited the F-22 detachment. The General received a comprehensive tour of the advanced fighter and was briefed on its unique capabilities, underscoring the importance of such engagements in fostering military-to-military relationships.
This deployment exemplifies the regular training and engagement activities conducted between the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Brunei Air Force. Such interactions serve a dual purpose: enhancing the operational capabilities of both services while simultaneously strengthening diplomatic ties between the United States and Brunei Darussalam.
For more information, hit the Source below