Planned relocations of US and Japanese forces on the island remain on track, says the top US commander there. Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of US Forces Japan, tells Stars & Stripes that Japan’s Air Defense headquarters are on schedule to move to Yokota Air Base by 2010. Wright also says the bilateral relationship is strengthening, citing Japan’s decision to continue host-nation financial support “at a relatively healthy level” and recent exercises that are fostering closer cooperation. The three-star, who also serves as commander of 5th Air Force, will retire next month after three years in this post. Lt. Gen. Edward Rice, who is currently Pacific Air Forces vice commander at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, will replace him.
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.