At least two of the United States Air Force’s (USAF) premier stealth fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-22 “Raptor” and the Boeing KC-135 “Stratotanker” aircraft, had just landed at the Clark Air Base, Pampanga.

This is part of the bilateral fighter “subject matter expert exchange” (SMEE) that started on March 13.

According to Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, the said fighter SMEE is part of the Air Force’s Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) activities for 2023.

It also has lined up the various engagement opportunities of the PAF with the USAF’s Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

The PAF fighter pilots and the personnel from the 5th Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command also took part in the bilateral fighter SMEE.

According to Castillo the bilateral exchanges will center on the capabilities of fighter aircraft operated by the two Air Forces as a prelude to other upcoming engagements to promote air domain awareness, agile combat employment, interoperability and other bilateral air objectives.

“Notably the USAF, PACAF brought in two F-22s and one KC-135 aircraft which were placed on static display for the appreciation of PAF commanders and aircrew,” Castillo said.

Catherine R. Cueto