US Prepares Front-Line Air Base for Chinese Missile Attack

By Ryan Chan

China News Reporter

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Kadena Air Base, a key United States airpower hub in Japan, has recently strengthened its preparedness amid China's missile threat by training to rapidly repair the airfield.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Located about 370 miles away, Kadena Air Base on Japan's Okinawa Island is the closest U.S. air base to Taiwan. In addition to hosting a rotational fighter jet presence, the base serves as an operating hub for Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy drone fleets.

Given its location near the Taiwan Strait, Kadena has been considered a potential target for the Chinese military should the U.S. come to Taiwan's aid in the event of an invasion, as Beijing has threatened to use force to achieve reunification.

According to a Pentagon report on Chinese military power, China possesses more than 2,000 ballistic missiles capable of reaching the entire territory of Japan. Kadena is currently defended by the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 air defense system.

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What To Know

The 18th Wing, the U.S. Air Force host unit at Kadena, said personnel from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron conducted rapid airfield damage repair training during the base-wide operational readiness exercise Beverly High 26-1 on November 6.

During the drill, engineers and explosive ordnance disposal personnel put their skills and knowledge to the test, including filling and reinforcing craters, clearing debris and restoring the surfaces of what the press release called a "mission-essential" airfield.

The training aimed to test the ability to quickly assess and repair simulated damage to a runway following a notional attack, ensuring the air base can maintain combat airpower operations in a contested environment, according to a press release on November 26.

"Every second counts when it comes to airfield recovery," said Seth Callahan, a senior airman and electrical power production journeyman assigned to the squadron, adding that the ability to respond quickly and effectively is "what keeps the mission moving."

Meanwhile, the 18th Wing said its operations support squadron and civil engineer squadron are conducting what it described as the base's most ambitious airfield repair projects of the year, replacing worn pavement and upgrading vital runway sections.

"Every step impacts the runway's performance. Our goal is to make sure it's strong, smooth, and ready for anything the mission requires," said Master Sergeant Brock Butshke, pavements and equipment section chief of the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron.

According to the 18th Wing, the improved runway is expected to enhance long-term durability and reduce the need for future repairs, ensuring the air base remains "a critical launch point" for U.S. Air Force operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

What People Are Saying

U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Arian Olomi, superintendent of the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, said: "Leadership has to make quick decisions based on the extent of damage and determine the most effective repair plan. This kind of training helps us make those calls under pressure."

Air Force Senior Airman Seth Callahan, electrical power production journeyman of the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, said: "The primary objective of [rapid airfield damage repair] operations is to get the airfield operational as quickly as possible so that we can get planes back in the sky. It's a very simple idea, but a lot goes into it."

What Happens Next

The Air Force is expected to continue improving its readiness at Kadena amid ongoing tensions over Taiwan between China and Japan. It remains to be seen whether additional combat units will deploy to the base to bolster its capabilities.

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