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runway operations have begun at Kadena AB, Japan, as part of a major construction project to overhaul the base’s runways. “Overall, Kadena airfield is large and diverse in operations and it requires continual maintenance to sustain operations,” said Kevin Rogers, construction project manager with Kadena’s 18th Civil Engineer Squadron. He said such projects typically occur every three to five years at the major USAF air hub. The US-funded construction project will take approximately 18 months to complete, nine months each for its north and south runways. It will entail milling and overlaying existing asphalt pavement, replacing individual concrete pavement slabs, repairing runway lights and distance-to-go markers, and replacing emergency barrier shelters. Work on taxiways will also occur. Kadena’s south runway is undergoing the repairs first, followed by the north runway. (Kadena report by Ed Gulick)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
