The U.S. Air Force has returned older fourth-generation F-15C Eagle fighters to Japan's Kadena base

Japan's Kadena Air Base (Kadena) welcomed a familiar type of US fourth-generation fighter aircraft this week. The F-15C Eagle arrived on the island of Okinawa on 3 October.

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The U.S. Air Force has decided to support a permanent presence on Okinawa. In this regard, the military service sent aircraft from the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard and the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard there.

Last autumn, the US began decommissioning the old F-15C/D Eagle fighters that had been based on the island of Okinawa for several decades. For the rotation, the 18th Wing has had time to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle, and fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fighters.

Before the downsizing, about 48 aircraft were stationed at the base. Since the end of last year, about 18 fighter jets have already returned to the US. A year ago, the U.S. Air Force said it intended to send all F-15C/D Eagle to an Arizona cemetery by September, but it is unclear whether that has been accomplished. The service is not releasing that information for security reasons.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine