U.S. Lands F-22s In Philippines For First Time

Last week, two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors landed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, marking a significant step towards increased defense cooperation between the two countries. During the exercise, U.S. pilots joined forces with the Philippine Air Force’s 5th Fighter Wing for low-altitude flyovers, air combat maneuvering, formation training, and air-to-air refueling over the heavily contested South China Sea, with the aid of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

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Captain Karl Schroeder, one of the Raptor pilots, noted that this was the first time F-22s, or any fifth-generation aircraft, have landed and operated out of the Philippines. He emphasized that this milestone with a regional ally aids in providing stability and security to the Indo-Pacific.

The growing importance of regional stability has become a pressing issue for the two militaries as threats continue to emerge out of Beijing. While the Philippine Constitution prohibits permanent basing of foreign troops, the two nations’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) allows for an increased presence of American forces by way of rotations to a handful of predetermined locations.

According to DoD officials, the EDCA is a key pillar of the U.S.-Philippines alliance, supporting combined training, exercises, and interoperability between the two forces. The expansion of the EDCA is expected to strengthen and make the alliance more resilient, as well as accelerate the modernization of their combined military capabilities.

Currently, the EDCA grants U.S. forces access to a number of military camps, with Basa Air Base in Pampanga on the island of Luzon being one of the identified sites. The base recently underwent a $25 million renovation of its runway, in preparation to be used as a hub for joint task force exercises and humanitarian assistance. Four other locations are currently slated to host U.S. rotations, while additional sites that have not yet been identified are expected to be unveiled in the near future.