A few days ago, the United States Air Force (USAF) deployed a new detachment of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters and F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighters to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of the latest rotation of combat aircraft replacing the now-retired fleet of F-15C fighters from Japanese territory. This deployment is part of the routine changes the force implements to fulfill its objective of “deterring potential adversaries,” according to the official statement.
Today, Kadena Air Base represents one of the most strategic locations for the U.S. Armed Forces due to its proximity to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as being a hub for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations. Within this context, the 18th Wing is part of the continuous rotation of U.S. Air Force aircraft reinforcing the force’s presence in the region and projecting combat power alongside regional allies. “Kadena is a fantastic opportunity for us – working alongside our mission partners, sharing experiences and techniques, will be invaluable and will ensure we are an effective fighting force in the Indo-Pacific,” said Major Chris Burson, commander of the 336th Fighter Generation Squadron upon arrival.
For this reason, and in response to the need for modernization in a region of growing tension, the U.S. has completed the withdrawal of the 48 F-15C/D Eagle fighters stationed at the Japanese base, with plans to replace them with 36 new F-15EX Eagle II jets. Since 2022, when the gradual retirement of the Eagles began, and while awaiting the delivery of the new jets by Boeing, the Air Force has been rotating F-16, F-15E, F-22, and F-35A fighters through Kadena to maintain its forward-deployed combat and deterrence capabilities in Japan.
As part of the new squadron rotation, between April 3 and 6 of this year, new combat aircraft arrived in Japan, marking the latest recorded rotation of U.S. Air Force fighters in the Pacific. This rotation included F-35As from the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (355th EFS) based at Eielson AFB, Alaska, and F-15Es from the 336th EFS based at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. Both units will integrate with the 18th Wing’s Operations and Maintenance Groups, alongside U.S. allies across the Pacific region.
The current fighter rotation at Kadena will continue until the base receives all three dozen Eagle II fighters and achieves full operational capability, although the timeline remains uncertain for now. The previous rotation took place in January, when an undisclosed number of F-35s from the Vermont Air National Guard arrived at the Okinawa base. Shortly thereafter, F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron took part in an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) exercise, simulating the deployment and operation of air combat capabilities from a decentralized location.
Finally, these new fighters are the first to arrive at Kadena since the last F-15C stationed in Japan completed its final flight back to the United States in January, as the platform nears retirement after 50 years of service. Meanwhile, Boeing is advancing the delivery of the first F-15EX Eagle II fighter from Lot 2 to the U.S. Air Force, which will complement the eight units delivered during 2024.
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AloJapan.com