F-15E Strike Eagles deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan in April, joining F-35s to bolster the Air Force’s fighter fleet on the strategically important island in the western Pacific.
Meanwhile, the F-16CMs and F-22s that were previously forward deployed to Kadena have returned home, according to their respective home bases. The Air Force is rotating fighters through Kadena as it sends the aging F-15C/D fleet back to the United States after more than 40 years of permanent Eagle operations on the island. Save for the A-10, the Air Force has had every active type of fighter aircraft cycle through Kadena in the last five months: F-15C/Ds, F-15Es, F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s.
“Modernizing capabilities in the Indo-Pacific theater remains a top priority,” Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing said in a news release. “This reception of advanced fighter aircraft at Kadena ensures the 18th Wing remains postured to deliver lethal and credible airpower to ensure the defense of U.S. allies and a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
On April 8, F-15Es from the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. touched down in Okinawa, according to the Air Force.
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron taxi after arriving at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 8, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tylir Meyer
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron arrives at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 8, 2023. The Strike Eagle will work in conjunction with F-35A Lightning II aircraft deployed from Eielson Air Force Base and remaining F-15C/D Eagles at Kadena Air Base to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron conduct recovery procedures after arriving at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 8, 2023. The reception of advanced fighter aircraft at Kadena ensures the 18th Wing remains postured to deliver lethal and credible airpower to ensure the defense of U.S. allies and a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tylir Meyer)
F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron arrive at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 8, 2023. The Strike Eagles arrived from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to ensure continuous fighter presence through the phased return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15C/D Eagles to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
A U.S. Air Force crew chief assigned to the 336th Aircraft Maintenance Unit marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle onto the apron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 8, 2023. The Strike Eagles arrived from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to ensure continuous fighter presence through the phased return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15C/D Eagles to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
That same day, F-22s Raptors and Airmen from the 525th Fighter Squadron assigned to Kadena headed home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. On April 10, F-16CMs from the 480th Fighter Wing returned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
A U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon from the 480th Fighter Squadron lands back at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, April 10, 2023, after a three-month deployment to Kadena AB, Japan. The deployment further increased the enhanced U.S. posture within Japan while continuing to build a strong alliance with the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon maintenance Airmen from the 480th Aircraft Maintenance Unit receive a 480th Fighter Squadron F-16CM fighter jet after its redeployment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, April 10, 2023, after a three-month deployment to Kadena AB, Japan. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman) 
U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons from the 480th Fighter Squadron taxi after landing back at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, April 10, 2023, after a three-month deployment to Kadena AB, Japan. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A welcome home poster drawn by the children of Airmen from the 525th Fighter Squadron Expeditionary team is displayed in Hanger 25 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 8, 2023. “The 525 Bulldogs deployed to Kadena AB the first week of November to support PACAF’s efforts to bring more advanced fighter aircraft forward to the western pacific while Kadena Air Base’s F-15C Eagles began divesting,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Tromans, 525th Fighter Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class J. Michael Peña)
The U.S. Flag hangs over the Airmen from the 525th Fighter Squadron Expeditionary team reuniting with their friends and family after returning from their deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 8, 2023. “While at Kadena, the Bulldogs supported multiple forward deployments, conducted higher headquarters taskings in support of joint and multinational partners, and conducted local training with other Kadena based assets,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Tromans, 525th Fighter Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class J. Michael Peña)
A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 525th Fighter Squadron Expeditionary team reunites with his family after returning from his deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 8, 2023. The Expeditionary Fighter Squadron team included 299 active duty and reserve personnel from 8 different JBER squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class J. Michael Peña)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nathaniel Hofmann, 480th Fighter Squadron director of operations, smiles as he prepares to exit his F-16CM Fighting Falcon fighter jet April 10, 2023, after returning to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, following a three-month deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The deployment further increased the enhanced U.S. posture within Japan while continuing to build a strong alliance with the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nathaniel Hofmann, 480th Fighter Squadron director of operations, greets his family after returning to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, April 10, 2023, following a three-month deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 480th FS deployed to Kadena AB to ensure a steady U.S. Air Force presence in the region to support the ongoing return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15 Eagles to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman) Kadena’s two-squadron F-15C/D fleet, 48 strong before the drawdown began, is gradually being sent to the Boneyard or Air National Guard units. The Air Force has promised to put newer and more advanced fighters on Kadena to make up for the lack of a permanent presence.
In November, the Alaskan F-22s were the first new rotational unit deployed to the key southern Japanese island, which lies some 450 miles from Taiwan—the closest U.S. airbase to the self-governing island China claims as its own. F-16CMs later joined the Raptors in January 2023.
In March, F-35s from the 355th Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska deployed to Kadena. After a roughly two-week overlap, the F-16s and F-22s have now departed. F-22s were originally supposed to replace Eagles as the Air Force’s main air-to-air fighter, but further production was cancelled in 2009. Kadena’s F-15s are the last Eagles in service in the Active-Duty force. F-15Es are multi-role fighters, unlike the original F-15.
“The F-15E is a proven combat platform that brings some unique capabilities into our already formidable mix of aircraft here at Kadena,” Col. Henry Schantz, 18th Operations Group commander, said in a news release.
The F-22s had an eventful deployment to the western Pacific, becoming the first fifth-generation fighters to deploy to Tinian and the Philippines. JBER said the aircraft flew 1,100 sorties during their four-plus month deployment. The F-16s stayed around three months and their deployment generated fewer headlines. The deployment of F-15Es and F-35s —along with the remaining F-15C/Ds—ensures Kadena will have a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft for now.
