U.S. Military Plans to Deploy F-15EX to Kadena Base in FY2027 and Expand Fleet to 267
The U.S. Air Force plans to formally deploy the F-15EX to Kadena Base in Japan in fiscal year 2027, while also planning to expand the F-15EX fleet to 267 aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force plans to formally deploy the F-15EX to Kadena Base in Japan in fiscal year 2027, while also planning to expand the F-15EX fleet to 267 aircraft.
US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall confirmed on September 15 that the Space Force already possesses space control weapons deployed in orbit, but did not disclose their specific types or quantities; the Chinese Foreign Ministry subsequently urged the US to stop expanding its arms and preparing for war in outer space, and opposed the weaponization of outer space.
On September 14, 2026, the US Secretary of the Air Force formally acknowledged for the first time that the US military has deployed on-orbit space control weapons, saying they can protect US forces and counter enemy space capabilities when necessary. China's Foreign Ministry subsequently warned the US not to turn space into a battlefield and opposed the weaponization of outer space.
The US Air Force plans to permanently station 36 F-15EX-IN2 fighters at Kadena Air Base in Japan, about 600 kilometers from Taiwan, replacing the retired F-15C/D fleet and expanding the F-15EX fleet to 267 aircraft.
From late August to early September, the U.S. Air Force completed its first F-15EX live munitions drop test at Nellis Air Force Base, carried out by the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard; the first F-15EX designated for permanent stationing at Kadena Air Base rolled off the production line at the end of August, and the U.S. Air Force plans to deploy the type to Kadena and expand the fleet to 267 aircraft in fiscal year 2027.
The US Air Force conducted a combat readiness exercise for F-22 Raptor fighter jets at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, practicing hot-pit refueling and distributed guerrilla strike capabilities.