A Fleet of F-15EX and F-35 Fighters Is Headed to China's Backyard

Summary and Key Points: The US Department of Defense has announced the deployment of advanced fighter aircraft to Japan, including 36 F-15EX and 48 F-35A jets, to enhance America's readiness in the Far East.

This move, supported by Tokyo, aims to strengthen the US-Japan alliance amidst increased regional military activities.

In response, China has been conducting drills to target mock-ups of US fighters in the Taklamakan desert, highlighting the ongoing military tension.

Pentagon Bolsters Forces in Japan with F-35 and F-15EX Fighters

U.S. Stealth Fighters Heading to Japan and Chinese Military is Already Preparing: Last week, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced that it would deploy dozens of the most advanced fighter aircraft to Japan as part of a $10 billion effort to enhance America's readiness in the Far East. The Pentagon is now coordinating with Tokyo on what is expected to be implemented over the next several years.

"The U.S. Air Force will upgrade its presence at Kadena Air Base (Japan) by deploying 36 F-15EX aircraft to replace 48 F-15C/D aircraft as part of a planned divestment and modernization. The Joint Force will continue to maintain a rotational presence of 4th and 5th generation tactical aircraft at Kadena Air Base throughout this transition," the DoD said in a statement. "The U.S. Air Force will also upgrade its presence at Misawa Air Base from 36 F-16 aircraft to 48 F-35A aircraft, leading to greater tactical aircraft capacity and capability."

The United States Marine Corps will also "modify the number of F-35B aircraft" that are maintained at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni. The Marine Corps will also continue to maintain both an "enduring and rotational aircraft presence" at the base located south of Hiroshima.

"The Department's plan to station the Joint Force's most advanced tactical aircraft in Japan demonstrates the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries' shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the Pentagon added.

Tokyo has supported the increased U.S. presence in the region. The United States Air Force has dubbed Kadena Air Base, home of the 18th Wing, to be the "Keystone of the Pacific."

"In the face of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II, and amidst the increased military activities of neighboring countries, the United States is maintaining and strengthening the presence of U.S. forces in Japan to further enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the government’s top spokesman, said at a regular briefing Thursday, per a report from CNN.

China is Already Responding for F-15EX and F-35 Challenges

Even before the Pentagon announced that the additional advanced fighters would be deployed to bases in Japan, China has been conducting drills that are clearly focused on destroying the best of America's combat aircraft.

New satellite images captured by Airbus, Planet Labs, and Google Earth show that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been "destroying" U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning II fighters at remote airfields in the Taklamakan desert in Xinjiang province. These were of course not actual fighters, but dummy aircraft made to closely resemble the American fifth-generation multirole fighters.

"China builds mock-ups of US fighter jets and practices air strikes on them. Clash Report publishes satellite images showing mock-ups of F-35 and F-22 fighter jets. They are located in the desert in northwest China. There are also spotted mock-ups of P-8A Poseidon and U-2 reconnaissance planes," NEXTA TV posted on X, the social media account formerly known as Twitter. "Earlier journalists reported that China built a model of the government district of the capital of Taiwan."

Beijing's forces regularly conduct military exercises at the remote target range located at a facility in northwest China. In the past, the PLA had constructed mockups of a U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier and a pair of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The target warships were reportedly used by the PLA to test its "carrier killer" DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles.

Around 20 aircraft mockups were present in April when Planet Labs was able to take satellite photos of the region. It is unclear what types of ordnance were employed against the targets, but clearly, the PLA understands that the best way to take out America's most advanced fighters is when they're on the ground.

The U.S. Navy is also training to sink an enemy carrier – but instead of a wooden mock-up, it will sink the retired USS Tarawa (LHA-1) during the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercises.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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