They take part in the Atlantic Eagle campaign operating as a United Kingdom and Germany. It is the first time since 1954, the year of the constitution of the aviation of Nipponic self -defense
It had never happened before Japan sided aircraft of its self -defense force (Jasdf) away from home, but now it happens in the context of a diplomatic and operational mission at the NATO decided at the beginning of this year. The sending of Japanese aircraft to Europe, 71 years after the rebirth of Japanese aviation in a context of growing tensions deriving from the Russian activities in the skies of the East-European and in the Arctic area, as well as the now acclaimed Kiev attempts to cause accidents to directly involve the alliance in the conflict. Remember, in this sense, the sabotage of the North Stream 2 pipeline and the episodes, still to be clarified, of the drones fallen into the Polish territory.
The Atlantic Eagles mission
Now, however, it is a group of combat structures, including four F-15 fighters, to be repositioned at some bases in the United States, Canada and Europe, on an unprecedented mission to support NATO called “Atlantic Eagles”. This happens after, last year, the Aviations and military marines of a dozen countries had gone to the region of the South Pacific on the occasion of Pacific Dragon 2024, but now, from what is learned from a press release from the Japanese armed force, to the new campaign that takes place very far from the Japanese archipelago will take part 180 military from air bases throughout the country, including the second flock of guitaries, Komaki tactical air transport, the second group from Irma and the third flock of Miho. The four F-15 fighters are accompanied by two KC-767 aerocisterne also necessary to extend the autonomy of transfer flights.
The strategy of Japan
The mission is based on the assumption that the safety of the Euro-Atlantic area and that of the ado-patient are connected, as Japanese diplomacy underlined in its press release. So the Japanese airplanes landed at the Eielson air base in Alaska, from where they will continue for Goose Bay, Canada and then they will proceed towards Coningsby, in the United Kingdom, and for Laage, near Rostok, in the Northeast of in Germany. The operation also aims to highlight the growing cooperation regarding defense between the United Kingdom and Japan and underline the global nature of security, especially in a scenario in which, often, to alert NATO defense is the non -use of the transponder (respondent to the secondary radar), by Russian aircraft, action that has as a consequence the non -recognition by the Radar centers and therefore causes the take -off of interceptors.
Official statements
“This marks our first deployment of hunting in Europe by the establishment of Koku-Jieitai” (this is the name of the Jasdf forces), as General Morita Takehiro, Chief of General Staff of Tokyo said. The Marshal Chief of Staff of the Royal Air Force, said: “The arrival of your British hunting hunting is not only a milestone, but also a powerful symbol of how progressing our partnership has progressed. This is not a simple visit, it is a demonstration of operational trust and shared objectives”.
Industrial and military cooperation
Words that also recall the participation of the Japanese aerospace industry in the GCAP program for the Sixth Generation Weapon System together with the United Kingdom and Italy. Last month, the defense ministers of both nations released their first joint declaration, recognizing stronger links and deeper cooperation. The military leaders stressed that “Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are strictly interconnected, this use aims to deepen mutual understanding and promoting shared defense objectives. The Atlantic Eagles mission therefore marks the beginning of a wider collaboration between the Royal Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in support of peace, of stability”.
