The Hawai'i Air National Guard and Pacific Air Forces have prepared a draft environmental assessment for the proposed basing of 20 Raptor fighter jets at Hickam Air Force Base.

The F-22A fighters can reach supersonic speed without afterburners, are highly maneuverable and have reduced visibility to radar.

The Hawai'i Air National Guard will be the first Guard unit to "own" the Air Force's most advanced weapons system, while the active-duty Air Force at Hickam will be an associate unit and also fly and maintain the aircraft.

The Air Force wants to base the new fighters in Hawai'i starting in late 2010.

Printed copies of the draft environmental assessment are available at the Wahiawa, Pearl City, 'Aiea, Kane'ohe, Salt Lake, Kapolei and Hawai'i state libraries; along with the University of Hawai'i's Hamilton Library; the Waimanalo and 'Ewa Beach public and school libraries; and the Hickam library.

The draft assessment is also available at www.pacaf.af.mil/library/pacificf-22/index.asp.

Those wishing to comment on the assessment may send those comments to: Kim Matyskiela, SAIC, 3049 Ualena St., Suite 600, Honolulu, HI 96819.

The 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Wing of the Hawai'i Air Guard currently has 20 F-15 fighters, which it has flown since 1987.

The Air Force proposes to replace the F-15s with the F-22s.

A primary mission of the Hawai'i Air Guard is air defense for the state.