F-15EX Eagle II Key Points and Summary – In a significant show of force aimed at China, the U.S. Air Force has deployed its new F-15EX Eagle II fighters to Kadena Air Base in Japan for the first time.
-The advanced jets are participating in the massive “Resolute Force Pacific 2025” exercise, a drill designed to test the Air Force’s ability to generate airpower at scale and speed.
-The F-15EX, armed with long-range missiles and capable of carrying hypersonic weapons, is replacing the aging F-15C/D fleet at Kadena, giving the U.S. a more potent and flexible platform to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
F-15EXs in Japan For Unprecedented American Air Exercise
The F-15EX Eagle II has touched down in Japan.
But this is more than a mere training stop; the U.S. Air Force’s freshest frontline fighter jet’s arrival in Kadena is a key step in Washington’s bid to outpace China in the Pacific.
New Fighter Jets Arrive in Japan
A pair of these new jets, assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, arrived at the Kadena Air Base in South Japan on 12 July.
They had previously stopped in the U.S. territory of Guam.
The planes are taking part in Resolute Force Pacific 2025 (REFORPAC), the U.S. Air Force’s massive exercise in the Indo-Pacific.
The intention is to deploy the F-15EXs to Japan next year permanently, and this is just one part of the preparation.
This isn’t just about testing a new airframe.
The Eagle II replaces the aging F-15C/D fleet that quietly bowed out earlier this year after four decades at Kadena.
And it does so with serious firepower: 12 AMRAAMs, conformal fuel tanks for more extended range, advanced sensors, and even the ability to launch hypersonic missiles. There’s no question the jet was built with the Indo-Pacific in mind.
F-15EX in 2 Words: War Training
REFORPAC itself is a sprawling, no-nonsense exercise involving more than 300 aircraft and partner nations including Japan and South Korea. Its purpose? To prove that the U.S. can still generate and sustain airpower at speed and scale, even under pressure.
And in a theater like this, where bases could be under threat from day one, agility matters.
That’s why much of the exercise focuses on the Air Force’s new “Agile Combat Employment” concept—think hot refueling in remote locations, quick dispersals to dodge missiles, and building resilience into every stage of deployment. The F-15EX, with its long legs and heavy payload, fits right into that strategy.
Kadena’s ‘Serious’ Upgrade as Tensions Rise
Kadena has long been a key launchpad for U.S. power in Asia. Now, it’s getting a serious upgrade. Alongside the F-15EXs arriving next year, Misawa Air Base is set to receive dozens of F-35As, while older F-16s are being shifted to South Korea. It’s a quiet but steady reshuffling of America’s Pacific playbook.
As Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans put it, “Bringing the F-15EX here gives our pilots and maintainers the chance to train in the environment where they’ll operate it daily.”
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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