U.S. Navy to deploy state-of-the-art fighters to Atsugi Base

The U.S. Navy is planning to replace its eleven F-14 Tomcat fighters with state-of-the-art F/A18 Super Hornet strike-fighters, as aircraft deployed to the Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. The Atsugi Base public relations section announced this as changes in aircraft carried by the Yokosuka-based U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.

The change will inflict more damage on residents around the Atsugi Base, said Akahata on August 31. The paper wrote:

Although the U.S. forces do not specify the date when F14s will be withdrawn, the U.S. Navy website says that all F14s will be replaced with FA18Es by FY 2007.

The FA18E has engines with a power 35 percent more than its predecessor. This has aroused concern in the U.S. mainland about noise pollution.

Based on its FA18E-related environmental feasibility study in the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. Navy last July issued a report with two proposals: one to separately deploy the FA18E wing to two bases in less-populated areas, and the other, to establish a touch-and-go exercise field apart from these bases.

Residents in areas adjacent to the Atsugi Base have been tormented with thunderous noises caused by ordinary flight exercises and night landing practices by aircraft from the U.S. carrier. Only Japan allows the U.S. to make forward deployment of a U.S. carrier with such aircraft.

Compared with steps to be taken on the U.S. mainland, what the U.S. Navy is going to do at Atsugi, a densely populated area, will cause more hardships to the 1.5 million residents concerned, Akahata warned. (end)