The U.S. Air Force presence at Kadena Air Base, Japan will undergo a transformation. The current fleet of F-15C/D aircraft being rotated out will be permanently replaced with a smaller contingent of the latest Boeing F-15EX variant.
While the press release specifies 36 F-15EX aircraft, this represents a reduction in overall fighter numbers compared to the previous deployment of 48 F-15C/Ds. The transition plan includes maintaining a rotational presence of 4th and 5th generation fighters at Kadena to ensure continuity during the upgrade process.
Misawa Air Base will see a substantial capability boost as its F-16 fleet is swapped entirely for F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The F-35A brings enhanced stealth and multirole capabilities to the base, significantly bolstering the U.S. Air Force’s operational reach in the region.
The Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture will undergo adjustments to its F-35B deployment. The exact number of F-35Bs planned for MCAS Iwakuni remains unspecified. The press release suggests this number will be determined by the ongoing force design modernization efforts of the U.S. Marine Corps. However, the base will continue to maintain an “enduring and rotational aircraft presence” to fulfill its role in defending Japan.
The U.S. Air Force announced the retirement of its aging F-15C/D Eagle fleet at Kadena back in November 2022. To ensure a steady fighter presence at the base during this transition, the Department of Defense implemented a rotational deployment strategy. Since 2022, F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Mountain Home Air Force Base, as well as fifth-generation F-35 Lightning IIs from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska have been rotated in and out of Kadena.
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