U.S. Unveils First Enhanced F-15 Fighter for New Elite Squadron on China’s Doorstep

The first U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II long range fighter intended for permanent basing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, has been unveiled, marking a significant milestone in the Air Force’s efforts to significantly strength its presence on one of its most strategically important facilities worldwide. The aircraft, serial 22-0022, has now appeared in the markings of the 18th Wing, providing the first visible indication that the long-delayed transition from obsolete Cold War era F-15C/D fighters, to the much more capable F-15EX, is making progress. The aircraft first flew from Boeing’s St. Louis facilities on August 4, and is the first of multiple aircraft intended for the 18th Wing that are expected to make their first flights in 2026. 

The F-15EX is in many respects the most capable fighter type in the Western world, and although it lacks many of the advanced subsystems of the F-35, or its stealth capabilities, it has a significantly more powerful radar, longer range, higher weapons carrying capacity, and superior flight performance. Continued severe limitations on the F-35’s its ability to operate in frontline roles are in part a result of delays bringing the aircraft up to the Block 4 standard. The F-15EX’s ability to contribute to protracted operations is also far greater due to the type’s significantly higher availability rates, as F-35s continue to suffer from major maintenance issues. 

The Air Force plans to station 36 F-15EX fighters at Kadena, which reflects the strategic importance of the facility due to its proximity to a leading potential hotspot for Sino-U.S. tensions, namely the Taiwan Strait. These will operate under both the 67th Fighter Squadron and the 44th Fighter Squadron. According to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, the first aircraft are now expected to arrive in Japan in 2027, with the full complement scheduled to be delivered by 2028. F-15EX’s ability to engage modern Chinese fighters, however, has been brought to serious question, as China increasingly cements its advantages in combat aviation. 

The F-15 is the oldest fighter type in production anywhere in the world, with the U.S. Air Force having initially intended to stop receiving the aircraft in 2001. The failure of the F-22 fifth generation fighter program to provide a viable successor to the F-15, and major shortfalls in the production of the F-35A, led the service to resume procurements of the enhanced F-15EX variant. The aircraft is far outmatched by new Chinese J-20 fifth generation fighters, which are similarly large but benefit from much longer ranges and cutting edge stealth capabilities. China is set to introduce its first sixth generation fighters into service around 2030, meaning they could begin operating in the region not long after the last ‘4+ generation’ F-15s are delivered to deploy to Kadena, leaving the American aircraft close to two generations behind.