TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Protests were staged Monday near Kadena Air Base in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa with locals angered at the U.S. military's deployment of F-22 fighters to the base.
Ten of the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighters arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Wednesday, with four more expected to join on a temporary basis, igniting concerns and anger among local residents, particularly about noise pollution from the jets.
Local protestors were quoted as saying Monday that the repeated "temporary" presence of the F-22's in Okinawa would lead to increased noise.
A group of plaintiffs in Okinawa has filed a lawsuit against the government over noise issues related to the aircraft, local media reported.
According to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the stealth fighters were deployed to Japan from their regular squadron in Alaska to "signify a continued commitment to regional stability and security."
PACAF said the fighter jets have routinely been based at the Kadena base over the past 10 years.
"F-22s are a familiar sight over the skies of Okinawa; the jets have been based at Kadena AB routinely over the past 10 years, with the last deployment occurring there in 2014," PACAF said in a statement.