The top U.S. fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor, will operate frequently from the Pacific island of Guam in coming years, a top general said on Thursday, as Washington counters China's military build-up with enhanced U.S. firepower in the region.

Air Force Gen. Paul Hester, commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, said Guam's Anderson Air Force Base would be host to an early tour of F-22s from a squadron of 18 to be delivered to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, by January 2008.

"We will have them rotate into Guam on a frequent basis," probably starting by mid 2008, Hester said at a ceremony at the assembly plant where the first F-22 to be assigned to the Pacific Command was being put together.

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