The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will deploy its F-15J fighters to Germany and the United Kingdom for the first time, as part of an approximately two-week mission that will also include the United States and Canada.
The announcement was made on September 12 by Japanese Defense Minister General Nakatani Gen, who stated that a total of eight aircraft — four F-15 fighters and four transport planes — will depart from Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido Prefecture bound for the four countries. The flights will be supported by aerial refueling.
Nakatani explained that the purpose of the operation is “to reflect our shared understanding that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable and interconnected” and added that it seeks “to deepen cooperation among allies and like-minded countries” through this deployment.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, this is a long-range flight, which is why the usual two-aircraft formation was replaced with four, including one reserve aircraft. No joint training is planned during this mission, though it is considered an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and observe the capabilities of the various forces.
The decision was finalized in late August following a ministerial meeting between UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Nakatani in Tokyo. In a joint statement, both governments highlighted “the strengthening of the relationship between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), as demonstrated by their joint efforts during Operation HIGHMAST and interoperability initiatives in preparation for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).” The ministers also “welcomed the future deployment to Europe, including the United Kingdom, of Japanese fighter and support transport aircraft.”
*Images courtesy of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
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