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USAFE unit deploying to Korea

For the first time, a U.S. Air Forces in Europe unit has been deployed to Pacific Air Forces for an Air Expeditionary Force rotation.

About 300 airmen and 20 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, members of the 555th Fighter Squadron, are slated to arrive at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, this weekend, a spokeswoman for the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan said in a news release.

The release did not say why the USAFE unit, based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, was tapped for the deployment, except that the U.S. “routinely evaluates its readiness and repositions forces ... to maintain capabilities to meet military obligations in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The deployment shows the U.S.’s continued commitment to regional stability and security in the region, spokeswoman Capt. Tiffany Payette said in the statement.

In February, a squadron of F-22A Raptors deployed temporarily to Japan — the first time the stealth fighters operated out of overseas bases. While there, the Raptors participated in fighter drills with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Other offensive deployments to the area include F-117 Nighthawks deploying to South Korea in January and F-16s currently being stationed in Guam.