HONOLULU -- The U.S. Air Force is surging ahead with plans to revitalize its bases on Guam from which to project power into the skies over the western Pacific and the islands and continent of Asia.
Bombers are already stationed regularly at Andersen Air Force Base on rotation from the United States, as are aerial tankers essential to long-range operations. A wing of 48 fighters is on the way. Perhaps most critical will be unmanned surveillance and intelligence aircraft known as Global Hawks, which can remain on station for 24 hours at a range of more than 1,900 km from base.
Reconstruction of runways from which bombing runs were flown over Vietnam 35 years ago has started. A new hangar has been built and more are on the drawing board. They will be typhoon-proof so that aircraft need not be flown out to escape the storms to which Guam is exposed.