As part of bilateral military cooperation between the two countries, U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-52H bombers were escorted for the first time this year by Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15 and F-2 fighters during a patrol in the Pacific. The maneuver took place in international airspace over the South China Sea and the Sea of Japan, amid a marked increase in Chinese and Russian naval and air activity in sensitive areas surrounding the Japanese archipelago—an ongoing source of concern for Tokyo.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, between February 16 and 18, JASDF fighters from the 7th, 8th, and 9th Air Wings, based at Hyakuri, Tsuiki, and Naha, integrated with U.S. Air Force B-52H bombers following their deployment from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. As reported, the aircraft conducted combined flights and tactical coordination activities aimed at strengthening interoperability.
On February 18, the exercise was remotely monitored from the headquarters in Ichigaya and Yokota, where Japanese authorities received a detailed briefing on the development of operations. As is customary, Japanese officials emphasized that such exercises are intended to demonstrate the cooperation and determination shared by both countries in the face of any attempt to alter the regional “status quo” by force.
However, the deployment of B-52H bombers in coordination with Japanese fighters is not an isolated event. Throughout 2025, similar exercises were recorded, particularly following joint long-range bomber operations conducted by Russia and China near the Japanese archipelago. For example, last December, the U.S. and Japanese Air Forces carried out combined maneuvers involving B-52H and F-15J aircraft in response to long-range air patrols conducted by Moscow and Beijing in the Western Pacific.
In this regard, the employment of U.S. strategic bombers in the Asia-Pacific theater serves as a visible deterrence tool, capable of projecting power over long distances and integrating with allied forces. For Japan, the presence of these platforms reinforces the security umbrella provided by Washington and underscores the strength of their mutual defense relationship.
The operational theaters: South China Sea and Sea of Japan
The selection of training areas in the Pacific is also significant. The South China Sea is a frequent site of friction between Japan and China, particularly regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute, while the Sea of Japan hosts a substantial portion of Russian air and naval activity in the Far East.
Within this context, the combined maneuvers involving B-52H bombers served multiple objectives, ranging from improved operational coordination in the event of a conflict to sending a clear political signal in an environment where regional military activity continues to intensify.
Guam: a strategic island for the U.S. Air Force
As noted, the USAF’s B-52H strategic bombers departed from Guam, a key U.S. strategic location in the Indo-Pacific that supports Bomber Task Force (BTF) operations. It is also the closest U.S. territory to the region, given its proximity to Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, and serves as a critical node for deterrence vis-à-vis China.
Its location enables aircraft—particularly bombers—to rapidly operate toward the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, or even the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, it allows the United States to conduct combined flights with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, demonstrating cohesion with these partners.
Finally, Andersen Air Force Base’s position allows the United States to sustain operations without relying exclusively on allied bases such as those in Japan and South Korea, further establishing it as an indirect pressure point within the regional strategic landscape.
You may also like: Japan monitored the latest anti-submarine drills conducted by Russian Navy corvettes in the Pacific
