A highly anticipated deployment of Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 Eagles to Europe is now beginning, with aircraft departing Chitose Air Base bound first for Eielson AFB, Alaska.
From Alaska, the Eagles will continue to Goose Bay, Canada, before crossing the Atlantic to arrive at RAF Coningsby, UK. After their stop at Coningsby, the jets will head to Laage Air Base, Germany. Presumably this trail will be mirrored for the return flight back to Japan after the goodwill trip 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 as it visited Japan. It has since also been confirmed and explained in detail by Japanese sources. Japan’s Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani, said the deployment “embodies the common understanding that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable.” He added that Japanese personnel “will seek to deepen mutual understanding with the air forces of those countries.”
The F-15s will be supported by a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) KC-46 Pegasus and KC-767 refueling aircraft as well a Kawasaki C-2 transports. The C-2s were noted departing from Chitose ahead of the fighters’ departure. An Omega Aerial Refueling Services KDC-10 tanker is also supporting at least some parts of the long trip.
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, located on the northernmost main island of Japan, Hokkaido, posted on social media to document their aircrafts’ departures. Footage and imagery suggests airframes taking part in the trip include 22-8936, 22-8939, and 42-8946 – all single-seat F-15Js – as well as an unidentified fourth F-15 with a serial beginning with 82. The four primary aircraft carry special tail markings for the deployment, which has been labelled ‘Atlantic Eagles’, along with similar markings on their external fuel tanks. Three additional F-15s departed Chitose without the special markings as airspares in case any of the primary aircraft had to turn back during the first leg.
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇯🇵🇬🇧🇩🇪 #JASDF #F15 s have departed Chitose AB @jasdf_chitose as #AtlanticEagles .We are visiting 🇺🇸Eielson, 🇨🇦Goose bay, 🇬🇧Coningsby and 🇩🇪Laage. See you soon @EielsonAirForce @Cdn_AirForce @RoyalAirForce and Luftwaffe! #AtlanticEagles pic.twitter.com/WLOi2X2KtX
— Japan Air Self-Defense Force (@JASDF_PAO_ENG) September 14, 2025
A press release from the JASDF detailed the units providing the aircraft in the Atlantic Eagles deployment. The 2nd Air Wing at Chitose is providing all four F-15s, with 1st Tactical Airlift Wing at Komaki participating 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 3rd Tactical Airlift Wing, while the remaining Kawasaki C-2 comes from the 2nd Tactical Airlift Wing at Iruma Air Base, Saitama Prefecture. In total, Atlantic Eagles will comprise around 180 JASDF personnel.
It is important to note that rather than being an exercise, the Atlantic Eagles deployment is largely intended to be a liaison visit to foster goodwill between Japan and its allies on a personal, unit-level basis. As such, the aircraft are understood to be taking part in only minimal amounts of actual flying during their time in Europe, perhaps limited solely to their transit flights between destinations.
Visits of Japanese military aircraft to Europe are quite rare, with the most notable recent examples being Kawasaki C-2 transports ferrying aid from Japan to Europe for onward shipping to Ukraine, as well as the visits of Kawsaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to European airshows amid interest in export orders for the airframe. Japanese F-15s have never made the journey to Europe before, so even with limited flying their arrival is sure to be a highlight for many aviation enthusiasts.
21.33 JF501 & JF601 2 x KC767 87-3601 & 44-3613 JASDF airborne from RJCJ to drag 4 x F15J Eagles to Europe via Eielson Afb and Goose Bay pic.twitter.com/KBnJK9aFJa
— Mike B (@jamjake01) September 14, 2025
Allied Cooperation
The visit returns the first favor extended by the UK in 2016 and by Germany in 2022 with deployments of Eurofighter Typhoons to Japan. More recently, the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier has just concluded a series of joint exercises with Japan that saw it and its aircraft working with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces’ F-35B-capable helicopter carrier JS Kaga, as well as with JASDF F-15s, F-35s, and other aircraft.
HMS Prince of Wales, currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific on Operation Highmast – otherwise known as Carrier Strike Group 25 – is now on the second half of its mammoth voyage, with Japan acting as the last port of call before turning back for home waters. The carrier is expected home in the UK around December of this year.
Last week, HMS Richmond – a Type 23 frigate deployed with CSG 25 – conducted a freedom of navigation exercise alongside the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Higgins which involved transiting the Strait of Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China condemned the passage as ‘undermining peace’ in the region, but the Royal Navy maintains the exercise was carried out “in full compliance with international law and norms, and exercises freedom of navigation rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”.
JASDF aircraft are regularly scrambled to monitor and, in some cases, intercept Chinese military aircraft operating in the East China and South China Seas. The Japanese island of Okinawa is less than 400 miles from Taiwan, with the Japan-administered (and Taiwanese claimed) Senkaku Islands even closer still. As such, many of China’s probing missions and military exercises around Taiwan’s territory often trigger responses from the Japanese military.
Japan’s Defense Ministry confirms that a Chinese military Wing Loong II surveillance and aerial reconnaissance/precision strike drone has been spotted under Japan’s anti-airspace incursion measures. The drone was confirmed flying from the E. China Sea to Pacific, near Okinawa. pic.twitter.com/eSXkQ3vTFf
— Jesse Johnson (@jljzen) February 26, 2025
Russia has joined with the People’s Republic of China during some of these air exercises near Japanese airspace. This likely reinforces views within the Japanese government that, despite the distance between them, the East Asian nation shares many overlapping security interests with NATO allies in Europe. Japan is cooperating with its European allies closer than ever before, not only with mutual exercises and visits but also industrial participation in projects like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Historically focused on domestic supply only, Japan’s military industry has turned its eye to exports with the aforementioned Kawasaki P-1, as well as the Kawasaki C-2. A success was achieved this year with the confirmation that Australia will buy Japan’s Mogami class frigate design to supplement its order for a local derivative of the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate.
