The U.S. military is set to send newest tactical military aircraft to be deployed in Japan over the next several years as part of a $10 billion upgrade of its forces in the country, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.
The Pentagon said in a press release that the effort would be carried out “over the next several years” to “enhance the US-Japan Alliance, bolster regional deterrence, and strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
At Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, the Air Force will replace 48 F-15C/D fighter jets with 36 cutting-edge F-15EX jets. It will rotate 4th and 5th generation jets during the transition.
At Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, the Air Force will replace 36 F-16 fighter jets with 48 F-35A jets.
The Marine Corps will increase the number of F-35B stealth fighter jets at its Iwakuni base, located just south of Hiroshima on the main island of Honshu.
“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 press release said.
Japan said basing the new fighter aircraft in the country would enhance U.S. capabilities there.
“In the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II, and amidst the increased military activities of neighboring countries, the United States is maintaining and strengthening the presence of U.S. forces in Japan to further enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the government’s top spokesperson, said at a regular briefing Thursday.
US military presence in Japan
The Kadena Air Base, referred to by the U.S. Air Force as the "Keystone of the Pacific" and home to the 18th Wing, has been pivotal in U.S. regional deterrence for over forty years, primarily with its older model F-15s. However, starting in 2022, these twin-engine fighters began to be phased out due to nearing the end of their service life.
To compensate for the absence of these older F-15s, the US Air Force has temporarily rotated other assets through the air base. The introduction of the F-15EXs, though, will now provide a stable component to the force structure. The F-15EX represents a significant advancement over its predecessors.
Boeing, the manufacturer, highlights its unparalleled weapons capacity, capable of carrying up to 12 advanced medium-range, air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and firing them from a distance greater than any other fighter in the U.S. Air Force inventory.
The deployment of these aircraft is part of broader enhancements that Washington has been implementing to its military presence in Japan, where the U.S. maintains a troop presence exceeding 50,000 personnel.
Okinawa, which hosts over 25,000 US military members and more than two dozen military installations, accommodates approximately 70% of all U.S. military bases in Japan.
In a recent development, the U.S. and Japan disclosed plans last year to establish a newly designated Marine unit in Japan. This unit will be equipped with advanced intelligence and surveillance capabilities, alongside the capacity to launch anti-ship missiles.
