US F-22s Practice Rapid Refueling in Okinawa to Counter China Threat

In a move to counter China's growing missile capabilities targeting fixed bases along the first island chain, U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighters recently practiced "hot-pit refueling" at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. This advanced tactical exercise, codenamed "Beverly Beach 26-1," took place on August 4.

The "hot-pit refueling" technique involves refueling an aircraft while its engines remain operational and the pilot stays in the cockpit. This process, likened to a Formula 1 pit stop, significantly reduces the time aircraft spend on the ground, enabling them to return to combat missions much faster. The exercise utilized an MC-130J Commando II transport aircraft from the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron to serve as a forward refueling platform.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cameron Brown highlighted the objective: "The key point of this method is to shorten turnaround time, allowing the aircraft to take off again more quickly." This forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operational model allows F-22s to be refueled at forward or temporary locations rather than returning to larger main bases. This enhances the flexibility of forward deployment for aircraft operating across the vast Indo-Pacific theater.

The exercise aligns with the U.S. military's "Agile Combat Employment" (ACE) concept. The strategy aims to mitigate the risk of large, fixed air bases becoming targets for Chinese long-range ballistic and cruise missiles during a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait or wider Indo-Pacific. By dispersing aircraft, fuel, and support personnel across multiple sites, the U.S. reduces its reliance on a few critical installations and increases its ability to sustain combat airpower.

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The key point of this method is to shorten turnaround time, allowing the aircraft to take off again more quickly.