Airmen complete post-flight checks on four F-15C Eagles that arrived at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, on Oct. 3, 2023. (Catherine Daniel/U.S. Air Force)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A contingent of F-15C Eagles from the Air National Guard in two states arrived at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa recently to guarantee fighter coverage as the Defense Department retires the base’s aging fleet.
About a dozen Eagles began arriving Oct. 2 from the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif., and the 159th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La., 18th Wing spokesman Lt. Col. Ray Geoffroy said by email Thursday. California Air Guard members primarily will operate the fighters.
The F-15s join Kadena’s remaining contingent of F-15C/Ds, F-15E Strike Eagles from Air Force bases in North Carolina and Idaho and F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from Alaska, Geoffroy said.
The Air Force, citing operational security, does not release the number of deployed aircraft or departure timelines.
Lt. Col. Jon Vanbragt, commander of the 144th Operations Group, in a Kadena news release Tuesday said his squadron was excited to work alongside and train with the 18th Wing and regional partners.
“Operating in the Indo-Pacific offers immense opportunities for our airmen and allies to strengthen our partnerships and continue to refine our tactics,” he said.
The Air National Guard F-15Cs will operate alongside fourth and fifth-generation fighters for the “coming months” to support the defense of Japan and “maintain regional stability,” Geoffroy said. Aircraft levels are mandated by the Defense Department.
The diverse fighter presence gives the wing an “expanse of capabilities,” Col. Henry Schantz, 18th Wing Operations Group commander, said in the release.
“Each unit that deploys here brings their own distinct skill sets and experiences, and we look forward to working and learning with the next set of operators to meet pacing threats and continue building partnerships throughout the region,” he said.
Japan’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday.
The Air Force is nearly halfway into a two-year plan to replace 48 aging F-15C/D fighters of the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons with rotating squadrons of more modern aircraft, including the fifth-generation F-35A and F-15E Strike Eagles.
Some F-15s went to Air National Guard units in the United States or to the Air Force boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
About a dozen F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, arrived in early November and a dozen F-16CM Fighting Falcons arrived in January from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Those aircraft have since departed.
Kadena is in the process currently of swapping out its deployed fighters, including F-35s from the 355th Fighter Squadron, for F-35s from 356th Fighter Squadron, Geoffroy said. Both squadrons hail from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
The F-35s from the 355th arrived March 28.
The base is also home the 18th Wing’s remaining F-15C/Ds and Strike Eagles from the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Geoffroy said.
“You can expect to see arrivals and departures over the coming weeks,” he added.
The Defense Department has not arrived at a long-term solution to replacing the F-15C, but all of the options currently on table are “superior” to the Eagle, Geoffroy said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
