Japan is deploying eight aircraft to bases in the United States, Canada and Europe to support NATO’s unprecedented mission.
The mission, known as the Atlantic Eagles, reportedly marks the first time in history of Japanese fighter jets deployed to Canada and Europe.
According to the release of Japan’s Air Force Defense Force, a total of 180 personnel from Japan’s air bases participated, including from the first air wing located in Komaki, the first tactical air wing located in Komaki, the second tactical air wing from IRUMA and the third tactical air wing from Miho. These four F-15s are accompanied by two tankers and two refueling tankers.
The mission “based on the recognition that the security of the European Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is interconnected,” the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force said in a press release.
The department said in a post on Monday X that Japanese air self-defense aircraft landed at Elson Air Force Base in Alaska. They will follow CFB Goose Bay in Canada, RAF Coningsby in England and Laage Air Base in Germany.
Japan established diplomatic missions to NATO earlier this year. Japanese aircraft deployed Japanese aircraft to Europe as tensions between NATO and NATO allies in Russian military exercises and increasingly active exercises against China in the Arctic.
