by Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM News Friday, April 29, 2005 Subscribe to Sabrina's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

Officials at Andersen Air Force Base this afternoon announced the rotational deployment of F-15E Strike Eagles to Guam. According to AirForceLink.com the F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.

The aircraft uses two crewmembers, a pilot, and a weapon systems officer. Previous models of the F-15 are assigned air-to-air roles; the "E" model is a dual-role fighter. It has the capability to fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy enemy ground positions and fight its way out.

During a press conference this afternoon at Andersen AFB, commander of the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing, Colonel P.K. White, announced that twelve F-15E Strike Eagles would be on rotationally deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Colonel White added the United States is enhancing regional security and demonstrating it's commitment to the Western Pacific. The Commander was emphatic that the deployment is not related to any specific country, situation, or increased threat in the region.