Air Force to Replace Aging F-15C/D Jets in Japan with New F-15EX Eagle IIs

The Air Force has announced a permanent plan to replace the aging F-15C/D fighter jets stationed in Japan with newer F-15EX Eagle IIs. On July 3, the Department of Defense revealed that 36 F-15EX fighter jets would replace the 48 F-15C/Ds assigned to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. The 18th Wing at Kadena has operated F-15s for over 40 years, and the F-15EX, a multirole strike fighter jet, is expected to enter operational service this year. The Pentagon did not specify when the F-15EXs would arrive, stating that the modernization effort would occur “over the next several years.”

Additionally, Misawa Air Base in northern Japan will replace its 36 F-16s with a larger force of 48 F-35A fighter jets. "The Department’s plan to station the Joint Force’s most advanced tactical aircraft in Japan demonstrates the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries’ shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the Pentagon said in the announcement.

In 2022, the Air Force announced the phasing out of the F-15C/Ds at Kadena Air Base without a permanent replacement. In the interim, the Air Force has been rotating different aircraft. The Pentagon confirmed that a rotational presence of 4th and 5th generation tactical aircraft would be maintained at Kadena throughout the transition.

Visible changes were noted in April when Kadena Air Base staged an "elephant walk" featuring jets from the Air Force and Navy, including F-22 Raptors, F-16Cs, and F-35As, showcasing the range of aircraft in Japan as some fighter jets were rotated out.

The Department of Defense also announced adjustments to the number of F-35Bs stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, though it did not specify the exact numbers. Beyond their presence in Japan, these squadrons and fighter jets participate in joint exercises in East Asia, including bilateral operations over the Korean Peninsula.