During the course of yesterday, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force announced that, for the first time in its 71 years of history, its F-15J fighters have arrived at RAF Coningsby air base located in the United Kingdom. As such, the stopover on British territory is part of the Atlantic Eagles deployment that the force is carrying out with the aim of expanding the ties it maintains with its allies in North America and Europe, especially with a London that recently sent its flagship toward Tokyo to host high-level meetings between defense officials.
Expanding on details, we can mention that the arrival of these fighters was preceded by the arrival in the United Kingdom of at least one of the two Kawasaki C-2 aircraft that provide support to the Atlantic Eagles operation, which took place during the afternoon of September 17. It is the specimen 58-1218, which departed from Goose Bay Royal Canadian Air Force Base, the same place where the four F-15J involved in the operation made a stopover after passing through Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The original point of departure for all activities was Chitose Air Base, located in Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture.
Particularly, this is one of the most modern C-2 aircraft that the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force possesses, considering that it was delivered in March of this same year as part of an order of 22 aircraft of its type placed by Tokyo; which includes a transport variant and another intelligence one known as RC-2. Its participation in the deployment, as inferred, consisted in the transport of personnel and various equipment associated with the reception of the F-15J aircraft on the ground. In terms of support aircraft that fulfill similar functions, Japan also deployed a second C-2 together with its KC-46 and KC-767 refueling aircraft; which will be hosted at RAF Brize Norton.
Looking ahead to the near future, the Japanese aircraft participating in Atlantic Eagles have before them a new stopover in European territory, namely: Laage Air Base in Germany. It should be remembered that both during their stay in the United Kingdom and in German territory, Tokyo’s intention is not to participate in extensive combat exercises but rather to carry out goodwill visits that reflect and expand its association with its most important allies. This implies that the deployment foresees reduced flight schedules, limited to brief stopovers where exchange with Western units can be taken advantage of and the rapid passage toward other points.
*Image credits: @JASDF_PAO_ENG on X
You may also like: Following a historic visit to the U.S. and Canada, Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15Js set course for the United Kingdom
AloJapan.com