The United States and Japan joined hands for massive air force drills with stealth fighters and strategic bombers roaring over the volatile East China Sea and the West Pacific Ocean.
The Japan Joint Staff recently disclosed that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) carried out a large-scale with the United States Air Force (USAF) on December 16, 2024.
The exercise involved 35 aircraft, including F-15s, a B-52H Stratofortress bomber, F-35As, F/A-18s, F-22s, F-16s, and E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare fighters.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force dispatched 13 F-15J fighter jets, a few of which were seen accompanying the USAF B-52 bomber in the photo released by the Japan Joint Staff.
The USAF sent eight stealth fighter jets: four F-22 Raptors and four F-35 Lightning II aircraft. They were joined by four F/A-18 Super Hornets and three E/A-18G Growlers.
Reports suggested that the drills were likely the largest ever conducted by the two allies, even though American and Japanese combat aircraft have flown in large formations before. The exercise included both formation flying and tactical maneuvers, including Defensive Counter Air training.
These bilateral drills took place over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the Western Pacific, making them all the more significant given the increased military activity by China’s People’s Liberation Army in the region.
The Joint Staff said in a statement: “The drill was carried out “amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan following intensified activities concerning Japan’s national security.” “This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong intention between Japan and the U.S. not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force, the readiness of JSDF and U.S. Forces, and further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance,” it added.
While Japan did not expressly name the country threatening its security, the statement appeared to be a subtle reference to China. For months, Japan has been flagging the uptick in China’s military activity in the East China Sea and the West Pacific, warning that it could lead to an unprecedented military miscalculation.
In August this year, a Chinese Y-9 intelligence-gathering military aircraft entered Japanese airspace for the first time, forcing the Japanese Self-Defense Air Force (JSDAF) to scramble fighter jets in response to the violation.
While Beijing clarified in November that the violation wasn’t intentional and was caused by turbulence, Japan said it would be closely watching the region to check for any future incursions.
“We take note of China’s explanation, and we will closely watch Chinese military activity from now on,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi at the time.
In addition, Japan has been threatened by the growing military cooperation between China and Russia in the region. For instance, in late November, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted a joint air patrol over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean.
The patrol saw the debut of the PLA Air Force H-6N nuclear bomber, further raising security concerns in Japan.
The latest show of force is likely to have been directed at China even though the US regularly conducts military drills with its Indo-Pacific allies.
Japan & US Countering Security Threats
Japan and the US have called China’s growing threat the “greatest strategic challenge.” At the 2+2 security dialogue held in July, Defense leaders from the US and Japan said in a joint statement: “Such behavior is a serious concern to the alliance and the entire international community and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
The statement emphasized that China’s foreign policy “seeks to reshape the international order for its benefit at the expense of others.”
For its part, Japan has made a concerted effort to expand joint operations with the US and South Korea to combat what it perceives as China’s security threat.
The US Air Force B-2 stealth strategic bomber conducted bilateral training with Japanese F-35A stealth fighters over the Pacific Ocean in September 2024, marking the first-ever joint drill between these advanced aircraft from the two nations.
The exercise took place over the Pacific Ocean as part of Bomber Task Force (BTF) operations in the Indo-Pacific region. It involved four JASDF F-35As from the 3rd Air Wing and Northern Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, one B-2 stealth bomber, and a KC-135 from the US Air Force.
Japan also participated in ‘Keen Sword’ joint military drills alongside the US, Canada, and Australia, which took place across Japan between October 23 and November 1.
In November 2024, Japan’s F-2 fighters participated in trilateral drills that saw participation from South Korean F-15K and US B-1B bombers. At the time, the US bomber was escorted by South Korean, American, and Japanese fighter jets during the exercises over waters where South Korean and Japanese air defense identification zones overlap.
More recently, on December 15, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force participated in Operation Christmas Drop 2024 inter-fly drills alongside the US, Australian, South Korean, and Canadian air forces.
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