Fighter aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) conducted a trilateral escort flight of U.S. Air Force bombers operating in the Pacific, July 11, 2025. Two Japan Air Self Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighters and two ROK Air Force KF-16 Fighting Falcons escorted two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers. The flight continues to demonstrate and train the collective ability to immediately respond to regional security challenges. This is the third trilateral flight of 2025 between the three nations, to include a bomber escort flight in January, while a trilateral flight in June refined defensive counter-air training.
The Mitsubishi F-2 is a multirole fighter that was derived from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with a 60/40 split in manufacturing between Japan and the United States. The basis of the F-2’s design is the F-16C Block 40. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000. The first 76 aircraft entered service by 2008, with a total of 98 airframes produced. The first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on a combat aircraft was the J/APG-1 introduced on the Mitsubishi F-2 in 1995. The F-2 is nicknamed Viper Zero, a reference to the F-16’s unofficial nickname of “Viper” and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
The KAI KF-16 Fighting Falcon is a South Korean-made fighter aircraft based on the American F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is produced by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and has been in service with the South Korean Air Force since 1998. The KF-16 is an advanced multirole fighter aircraft designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The KF-16 program involved the modification of the F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon, with specific modifications and upgrades to meet the requirements of the South Korean Air Force. These modifications included the integration of advanced avionics, weapons systems, and other technologies to enhance the aircraft’s capabilities. The first KF-16s entered service with the South Korean Air Force in 1999.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range subsonic jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without aerial refueling. Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite the development of more advanced strategic bomberst. The operational aircraft received upgrades between 2013 and 2015 and are expected to serve into the 2050s.
