A extremely anticipated deployment of Japan Air Self-Protection Drive F-15 Eagles to Europe is now starting, with plane departing Chitose Air Base sure first for Eielson AFB, Alaska.
From Alaska, the Eagles will proceed to Goose Bay, Canada, earlier than crossing the Atlantic to reach at RAF Coningsby, UK. After their cease at Coningsby, the jets will head to Laage Air Base, Germany. Presumably this path might be mirrored for the return flight again to Japan after the goodwill journey concludes.
We first reported on this deployment when it was confirmed by the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence in a speech on board HMS Prince of Wales because it visited Japan. It has since additionally been confirmed and defined intimately by Japanese sources. Japan’s Minister of Protection, Gen Nakatani, stated the deployment “embodies the frequent understanding that safety within the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific areas is inseparable.” He added that Japanese personnel “will search to deepen mutual understanding with the air forces of these nations.”
The F-15s might be supported by a Japan Air Self-Protection Drive (JASDF) KC-46 Pegasus and KC-767 refueling plane as nicely a Kawasaki C-2 transports. The C-2s had been famous departing from Chitose forward of the fighters’ departure. An Omega Aerial Refueling Providers KDC-10 tanker can be supporting at the least some components of the lengthy journey.
今朝「Atlantic Eagles」航空自衛隊のC2輸送機2機が1日早く、アラスカ州のエイールソン空軍基地へ沢山の隊員に見送られ出発しました。
行ってきます！お気を付けて！
#千歳基地#AtlanticEagles#航空自衛隊#JASDF pic.twitter.com/OjP6VtIDCK
— なおやん@南の島に行きたい (@hogehogenaoyan) September 14, 2025
KC-46(JF601)とKC-767(JF501)に見送られる形で、ひと足先に飛び立ったKDC-10(OME11)その後1分間隔でタンカーが上がって行きました。演習らしい風景を久しぶりに見ることが出来ました。 pic.twitter.com/gSCs4zAGdZ
— Oka (@RJTT_OKAPI) September 14, 2025
Chitose Air Base, positioned on the northernmost predominant island of Japan, Hokkaido, posted on social media to doc their aircrafts’ departures. Footage and imagery suggests airframes participating within the journey embody 22-8936, 22-8939, and 42-8946 – all single-seat F-15Js – in addition to an unidentified fourth F-15 with a serial starting with 82. The 4 major plane carry particular tail markings for the deployment, which has been labelled ‘Atlantic Eagles’, together with related markings on their exterior gas tanks. Three extra F-15s departed Chitose with out the particular markings as airspares in case any of the first plane needed to flip again in the course of the first leg.
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇯🇵🇬🇧🇩🇪 #JASDF #F15 s have departed Chitose AB @jasdf_chitose as #AtlanticEagles .We’re visiting 🇺🇸Eielson, 🇨🇦Goose bay, 🇬🇧Coningsby and 🇩🇪Laage. See you quickly @EielsonAirForce @Cdn_AirForce @RoyalAirForce and Luftwaffe! #AtlanticEagles pic.twitter.com/WLOi2X2KtX
— Japan Air Self-Protection Drive (@JASDF_PAO_ENG) September 14, 2025
A press launch from the JASDF detailed the models offering the plane within the Atlantic Eagles deployment. The 2nd Air Wing at Chitose is offering all 4 F-15s, with 1st Tactical Airlift Wing at Komaki taking part with a single KC-767. Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture is sending a single Kawasaki C-2 and a KC-46 Pegasus from the third Tactical Airlift Wing, whereas the remaining Kawasaki C-2 comes from the 2nd Tactical Airlift Wing at Iruma Air Base, Saitama Prefecture. In whole, Atlantic Eagles will comprise round 180 JASDF personnel.
It is very important notice that moderately than being an train, the Atlantic Eagles deployment is essentially meant to be a liaison go to to foster goodwill between Japan and its allies on a private, unit-level foundation. As such, the plane are understood to be participating in solely minimal quantities of precise flying throughout their time in Europe, maybe restricted solely to their transit flights between locations.
Visits of Japanese army plane to Europe are fairly uncommon, with probably the most notable current examples being Kawasaki C-2 transports ferrying assist from Japan to Europe for onward delivery to Ukraine, in addition to the visits of Kawsaki P-1 maritime patrol plane to European airshows amid curiosity in export orders for the airframe. Japanese F-15s have by no means made the journey to Europe earlier than, so even with restricted flying their arrival is bound to be a spotlight for a lot of aviation fans.
21.33 JF501 & JF601 2 x KC767 87-3601 & 44-3613 JASDF airborne from RJCJ to pull 4 x F15J Eagles to Europe through Eielson Afb and Goose Bay pic.twitter.com/KBnJK9aFJa
— Mike B (@jamjake01) September 14, 2025
Allied Cooperation
The go to returns the primary favor prolonged by the UK in 2016 and by Germany in 2022 with deployments of Eurofighter Typhoons to Japan. Extra lately, the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales plane provider has simply concluded a collection of joint workout routines with Japan that noticed it and its plane working with the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Forces’ F-35B-capable helicopter provider JS Kaga, in addition to with JASDF F-15s, F-35s, and different plane.
HMS Prince of Wales, at present deployed to the Indo-Pacific on Operation Highmast – in any other case often known as Service Strike Group 25 – is now on the second half of its mammoth voyage, with Japan appearing because the final port of name earlier than turning again for dwelling waters. The provider is predicted dwelling within the UK round December of this yr.
Final week, HMS Richmond – a Kind 23 frigate deployed with CSG 25 – carried out a freedom of navigation train alongside the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Higgins which concerned transiting the Strait of Taiwan. The Folks’s Republic of China condemned the passage as ‘undermining peace’ within the area, however the Royal Navy maintains the train was carried out “in full compliance with worldwide legislation and norms, and workout routines freedom of navigation rights in accordance with the United Nations Conference on the Legislation of the Sea”.
JASDF plane are commonly scrambled to watch and, in some instances, intercept Chinese language army plane working within the East China and South China Seas. The Japanese island of Okinawa is lower than 400 miles from Taiwan, with the Japan-administered (and Taiwanese claimed) Senkaku Islands even nearer nonetheless. As such, a lot of China’s probing missions and army workout routines round Taiwan’s territory typically set off responses from the Japanese army.
Japan’s Protection Ministry confirms {that a} Chinese language army Wing Loong II surveillance and aerial reconnaissance/precision strike drone has been noticed beneath Japan’s anti-airspace incursion measures. The drone was confirmed flying from the E. China Sea to Pacific, close to Okinawa. pic.twitter.com/eSXkQ3vTFf
— Jesse Johnson (@jljzen) February 26, 2025
Russia has joined with the Folks’s Republic of China throughout a few of these air workout routines close to Japanese airspace. This seemingly reinforces views inside the Japanese authorities that, regardless of the gap between them, the East Asian nation shares many overlapping safety pursuits with NATO allies in Europe. Japan is cooperating with its European allies nearer than ever earlier than, not solely with mutual workout routines and visits but in addition industrial participation in initiatives just like the International Fight Air Programme (GCAP).
Traditionally centered on home provide solely, Japan’s army business has turned its eye to exports with the aforementioned Kawasaki P-1, in addition to the Kawasaki C-2. A hit was achieved this yr with the affirmation that Australia will purchase Japan’s Mogami class frigate design to complement its order for an area by-product of the Royal Navy’s Kind 26 frigate.
