| Kadena Air Base | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
嘉手納飛行場 Kadena Hikōjō | |||||||||
| Kadena, Okinawa Prefecture in Japan | |||||||||
 A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry from the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron taxis on the runway before take-off from Kadena Air Base in 2015. | |||||||||
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  Kadena AB  Kadena AB  Kadena AB  Kadena AB | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°21′06″N 127°46′10″E / 26.35167°N 127.76944°E | ||||||||
| Type | U.S. Air Force Base | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Various (leased by Government of Japan and made available to the U.S.) | ||||||||
| Operator | U.S. Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) | ||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1945 (as Yara Hikojo Airfield) | ||||||||
| In use | 1945 – present | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Current commander | Brig. Gen. David Eaglin | ||||||||
| Garrison | 18th Wing (Host) | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN, WMO: 479310 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 43.6 metres (143 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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| Other airfield facilities | 1x V/STOL pad | ||||||||
| Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1] | |||||||||
Kadena Air Base (嘉手納飛行場, Kadena Hikōjō) (IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its highly strategic location.[2] It is located 650 km (400 mi) off the coast of China and at a distance of 770 km (480 mi) from Shanghai, a major Chinese economic hub. It is home to the USAF's 18th Wing, the 353rd Special Operations Wing, reconnaissance units, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and a variety of associated units. Over 20,000 American servicemembers, family members, and Japanese employees live or work at Kadena Air Base.[3] It is the largest and most active U.S. Air Force base in East Asia.[4]
- ^ "RODN – Kadena". Japan Aeronautical Information Service Centre. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ "Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan | MilitaryBases.com". Military Bases. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Homepage of Kadena Air Base".
- ^ "Kadena Air Base".