F-15EX fighter aircraft are sent to Japan for training exercises, with Kadena Air Base preparing for the arrival of the new jets.
U.S. Air Force Deploys F-15EX Eagle II Jets to Kadena Air Base
The U.S. Air Force has begun deploying the advanced F-15EX Eagle II jets to Kadena Air Base in Japan, marking a significant step in the modernization of U.S. airpower in the Indo-Pacific region.
Two F-15EX aircraft arrived at Kadena Air Base on July 12, 2025, from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The deployment is part of an integration and familiarization training program with Kadena’s local units and joint partners.
The training is essential to prepare Kadena Air Base personnel for the permanent arrival of 36 more F-15EX aircraft scheduled for spring 2026. This deployment and training will prepare the Air Force and its allies for the transition from aging F-15C/D Eagles, which Kadena had operated for 45 years until the last flight in January 2025, to the next-generation F-15EX platform.
The training involves familiarizing the base’s 18th Wing, which historically flew F-15C/D models for air superiority, with the advanced avionics, weapon systems, and enhanced offensive and defensive capabilities of the F-15EX jets. This strategic move aims to maintain U.S. air dominance and deterrence in a dynamic and increasingly contested Indo-Pacific theater, especially given Kadena's strategic location about 400 miles east of Taiwan.
The deployment includes participation in exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025, further integrating the F-15EX into regional operational scenarios alongside joint forces. This phased deployment and training prepare the Air Force and its allies for the transition from aging F-15C/D Eagles to the next-generation F-15EX platform.
The implications for the Indo-Pacific region include ensuring sustained readiness and enhanced airpower capability to deter potential adversaries, notably increasing the U.S. strategic posture against evolving threats such as those from China. The deployment also aims to maintain seamless integration of new technology within existing forces to adapt rapidly to regional security challenges.
Kadena Air Base will have the latest fourth-generation fighters with the arrival of the F-15EX, reinforcing its critical role as a forward-operating location to project airpower and maintain a credible deterrence posture in a contested security environment.
The Air Force has been rotating fighters through Kadena Air Base since 2022, including fifth-generation F-35s, F-22s, fourth-generation F-15Es, and F-16s. The change-of-command ceremony took place at Kadena Air Base, with Brig. Gen. John Gallemore taking over command of the 18th Wing from Evans on July 14.
Meanwhile, Misawa Air Base in Japan is modernizing its fleet, transferring its F-16s to Osan Air Base in South Korea. Misawa will be the Air Force's second overseas base to permanently host the F-35 stealth jets, following RAF Lakenheath in England. The transfer makes way for Misawa to receive F-35 Lightning II jets next spring.
Air Force leaders have expressed confidence that the transition to the Eagle II will be smooth, despite moving towards shorter deployments to smaller, more dispersed operating locations. General Kevin B. Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, stated that while there will be some learning involved in putting the new platform into various environments, he doesn't anticipate the transition to be significant.
The Marines have also deployed F-35Bs to Japan at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The arrival of the F-15EXs marks a key milestone in the Department of Defense's ongoing effort to modernize U.S. airpower in the region and deter against evolving threats.
- The F-15EX Eagle II jets, an upgrade from the aging F-15C/D Eagles, will be equipped with advanced avionics, weapon systems, and enhanced offense and defense capabilities.
- The Space Force and the Air Force might jointly explore the potential of integrating advanced defense weapons and aerospace technology onto these aircraft for space security.
- To fund the expansion and modernization of the Air Force's aircraft fleet, the industry and finance sectors may need to collaborate and allocate appropriate resources.
- The pilots involved in the training program at Kadena Air Base will have to master the F-15EX's latest technology to maintain U.S. air dominance and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Alongside the U.S. Air Force, the Space Force may consider establishing a Space Force Aircraft squadron dedicated to securing and patrolling our space assets, ensuring protection against potential adversaries.
