The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, JASDF) has sent two fighter jets to the Philippines, the first time it has dispatched them to the country. Two Mitsubishi F-15J fighter jets arrived on Tuesday at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island after taking off from an airbase in southwestern Japan. The fighter jets flew for about four hours and were refueled in the air. The two nations are deepening their security ties as China increases its regional presence. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Philippine Air Force began joint exercises last year. The two jets will not take part in the drill this time.
Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J fighter jets have deployed to Clark air base, Philippines for the first time. This deployment is called “Pareho-22?, which means “together” in Talago. The fighters took off from southwestern Japan and were refueled in mid-air before arriving in Luzon Island. Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Angeles City, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air Force under the aegis of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and their predecessor organizations from 1903 to 1991.
The Philippines is the third country to which Japan has sent its fighters, after the United States and Australia. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force called the Philippines “a very important partner” of Japan’s that shares common values. Japan want to expedite cooperation, inter-operation and mutual understanding, and contribute to stabilization in the region. Japan has also begun transferring air surveillance radar systems to the Philippines. Japan is considering selling air defense radar technology to the Philippines in what would be its first export of defense equipment since ending a nearly 50-year ban in 2014.
The Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). F-15J/DJs are identical to F-15C/Ds aside from the ECM, radar warning system, and nuclear equipment. The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The subsequent F-15DJ and F-15J Kai variants were also produced. Japan is the largest customer of the F-15 Eagle outside the United States. In addition to combat, F-15DJ roles include training. The F-15J Kai is a modernized version of the F-15J.
