USAF B-52H bombers escorted by Japanese F-15 and F-2 fighters during Pacific patrol

As part of the bilateral co-operation between the two countries’ armed forces, US Air Force (USAF) B-52H bombers were escorted for the first time this year by Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 and F-2 fighters during a Pacific patrol. The operation took place in international airspace over the South China Sea and the Sea of Japan, amid a sharp rise in Chinese and Russian naval and air activity at a number of sensitive locations around the Japanese archipelagoes, which continues to cause concern in Tokyo.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Defence, fighters from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 7th, 8th and 9th Air Wings, based at Hyakuri, Tsuiki and Naha respectively, joined USAF B-52H bombers between 16 and 18 February after the latter deployed from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. The aircraft also conducted combined flights and tactical co-ordination activities aimed at strengthening interoperability.

On 18 February, the exercise was remotely monitored from the headquarters at Ichigaya and Yokota, where Japanese officials received a detailed briefing on the conduct of the operations. As is customary, Japanese authorities stressed that exercises of this kind are intended to demonstrate the co-operation and resolve shared by both countries in the face of any attempt to change the regional “status quo” through force.

B-52H patrols and Japan Air Self-Defense Force co-operation

The deployment of B-52H bombers alongside Japanese fighters is not, however, an isolated occurrence. Similar exercises were recorded throughout 2025, particularly following joint operations by Russian and Chinese bombers near the Japanese archipelago. Last December, for instance, the US and Japanese air forces carried out combined manoeuvres involving B-52H bombers and F-15J fighters in response to long-range air patrols conducted by Moscow and Beijing in the western Pacific.

In this context, the use of US strategic bombers in the Asia-Pacific theatre represents a visible deterrence tool, capable of projecting power over long distances while integrating with allied forces. For Japan, the presence of these platforms also reinforces the security umbrella provided by Washington and highlights the strong mutual defence relationship between the two countries.

The operational areas: the South China Sea and the Sea of Japan

The selection of these Pacific training areas is also significant. The South China Sea is a frequent source of friction between Japan and China, particularly regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, while the Sea of Japan is home to a substantial share of Russian air and naval activity in the Far East.

Against this backdrop, the setting in which the combined B-52H bomber manoeuvres took place supported several objectives: improving operational co-ordination in the event of a conflict, while also delivering a clear political signal in an environment where military activity by regional actors continues to increase.

Guam: a strategic island for the US Air Force

As noted above, the USAF’s B-52H strategic bombers departed from Guam, a strategic US location in the Indo-Pacific. The island forms part of Bomber Task Force (BTF) operations and is the closest US territory to this region. Its importance is defined by its proximity to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, among other territories, but above all by its role as a deterrence hub directed towards China.

Its location enables aircraft, particularly bombers, to operate rapidly towards the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and even the Taiwan Strait. It also gives the United States a base from which to conduct combined flights with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines, demonstrating cohesion with those partners.

Finally, Andersen Air Force Base’s position allows the United States to sustain operations without relying solely on allied bases in Japan and South Korea, while also serving as an element of indirect pressure in the regional theatre.