Japan will deploy F-15J fighters to Europe and the UK for the first time, marking a major step in defence cooperation between Tokyo and London, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The move was confirmed during a joint press conference by Defence Secretary John Healey and his Japanese counterpart, with both sides highlighting the growing operational ties between their air forces.
Healey stated that F-15s from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will soon be stationed in the UK, accompanied by supporting transport aircraft, with plans for unit-to-unit exchanges alongside the RAF.
A joint statement issued after the meeting declared: “The Ministers acknowledged the strengthening relationship between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), as demonstrated by their joint efforts during Operation HIGHMAST and interoperability efforts in preparation for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The Ministers welcomed the future deployment to Europe, including the UK, by Japanese fighter aircraft and supporting transport aircraft.”
The deployment coincides with the UK Carrier Strike Group’s visit to Japan as part of Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s ongoing Indo-Pacific mission. During the port call, British F-35B jets conducted their first landing on the Japanese helicopter carrier JS Kaga, an event hailed as a milestone in UK–Japan military interoperability.
The two governments also reiterated their commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme, a trilateral effort with Italy to build a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. According to the statement, the aim is to conclude the first international contract between government and industry partners by the end of 2025, with the aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2035.
In addition to highlighting deepening defence ties, the joint communiqué specifically criticised China, North Korea, and Iran for their continuing support of Russia.
Hmm this new Anglo-Japanese alliance is proving very interesting
Unthinkable just a few years ago was the idea that the World would shrink so quickly. This can only strengthen military alliances against growing mutual threats. On another point raised, 2035 for the Tempest….has that ISD suddenly stretched a few years? My understanding was early 30s?
Hi maurice,
Yeh, I thought that date was slip to the right. Also it is not the ISD but the first deliveries so ISD in the late 2030’s..? They were talking about first deliveries in the early 30’s so it is not a huge slip and I think the early 30’s was a stretch target.
Much will depend on the stability of the requirements and how much gold leaf gets added onto the design. If they can keep requirements creep out of the program and the 2035 date is realistic then it should have a chance of hitting that target or at least getting close to it. It needs to come in on time, given Putin’s actions and China’s ambitions.
We will see.
The 2035 entry to service has been confirmed for more than two years by now, and possibly also prior to that (2023 is the earliest article I can find supporting the 2035 ETS).
We can expect GCAP to offer a less advanced capability compared to the American and Chinese designs, but that’s probably for the best. More conservative requirements benefit an accelerated timeline.
Ah, thanks for that leh. Appreciated.
Lets hope that they can keep to the time table. I am kind of expecting that the first aircraft to come into service will have a basic capability level and that the capability will be spirally developed. I cannot see them getting everything I have read about sorted in the current timeframe and sincerely hope that they focus on getting the basics right so that they can get close to a plug and play process to spirally develop future capabilities. If not then it will be F-35 mk2…
Cheers CR
No worries. I agree with your assessment around spiral capability, that would make a lot of sense.
What makes you think we can , should or will accept less advanced capability?
One hopes it would at least match the US and Chinese 6th Gen. To build something like what we have seen in the mock-ups, we will end up with something between the F-35 and F-22. In that case, it would be a tremendous waste of money. We were promised a 6th Gen that wouldn’t rely on traditional control surfaces, something the Chinese appear to have made and the Americans are claiming to have done.
Far be it from me , an ex RAF Officer , I to differ with an ex Royal Marine on aviation matters but if the UK can take the lead and deliver a high quality 6th Generation fighter with all the benefits that brings to British industry etc I see no reason why we shouldn’t do it .
Good to see the developing relationship between the UK and Japan continue to grow and evolve. We have a lot in common as island nations sitting off continents dominated by conflict and confrontations which threaten the rules based world order that we both depend on for security and stable trading conditions.
The main difference is that Japan is a frontline state whereas we have a continent between us and Russia, with many forgetting that the Western Approaches of the North Atlantic will like be a major maritime battle ground with NATO trying to escort merchant ships in and out of Europe and CRINK navies trying to interdict them, not to mention the significant impact on our economies should the undersea infrastructure, such internet cables, power cables and gas lines, be attacked. So in reality we are also a frontline state and desperately need to be able to defend our sea lanes and airspace.
So yeh, we have a lot in common with Japan.
Cheers CR
Agreed.
I have a lot of time for Japan, it’s culture, and it’s people.
History repeats. UK and Japan had a military alliance 1902 -1923. May this current defence co-operation prosper.
A very good one too.
Lest we forget hey.
My dad’s first posting was to India in 1935 then did the whole Burma thing all the way down to Singapore. I’ll never forget creeping into my mum and dads bedroom to get a look at the Japanese army sword (not sure if it’s a officers or SNCOs sword) that he kept under his bed along with his Kukri. He later spent a fair few months of treatment and recuperation in Tokyo at a US army hospital after being WIA in Korea which he recounted as the best time in his army career. I think he would be pleased we have this relationship with Japan now.
I’m pleased your dad’s experiences were not as dreadful as some , that must have been a relief to both him and your family. I’m not suggesting an alliance isn’t now a good thing and a step forwards of course , merely that I find the overt Japanese ‘love in’ with a country that has never formally apologised for its disgraceful treatment of POW’s, that profoundly affected many families for the rest of their lives, somewhat distasteful at this time.
Indeed and they had a limited deployment of warships to the Med during WW1.
Will be good to see some Mitsubishi A6M Zeros
Excellent. I worked with a Japanese company and it’s managers back in the 80’s on a youth training scheme. They were brilliant and despite some thoughts to the contrary I had originally they had a good sense of humour when you got to know them.
We don’t do Humour here.
👀😇
Oh yes we do……
When, where, and how often ?
I’ll get the comfy chair out !
Lakenheath I suppose ,I would like to see more raf bases regenerated.. We have just a few eggs and only a couple of baskets.
Leeming would be a better option since the Swiss tend to use it when they’re on exercise here.
Or better still a new SQN of Typhoons ,wishful thinking I guess 👍
Four F-16J and two supporting C2 expected at RAF Coningsby between roughly 13-24th (dates may change slightly), they will then go on to spend a week in Laage Germany.
* 13-24th of September
Two squadrons on Hokkaido have apparently been on deployment notice in anticipation of the visit for a few weeks now.
Nice, that’s pretty soon.
Nice, that’s pretty soon.
Does anybody known if this is a long-term deployment?
What a great sight that will be… Japanese F15s screaming in through the Mach Loop!!! Key allies, great friends. 🇬🇧🤝🇯🇵
It makes sense as there will probably need to be a joint test and evaluation squadrons for the new six generation fighter, so getting in some shared operational experience will be useful for that.
This might put the Americans’ noses out of joint. Japan and the UK together with Italy might just have the right stuff to build a world-beating 6th gen stealth aircraft. This sort of cooperation can only be good for all partners.