IRIA News

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Japan has launched its most significant overseas air deployment in modern history, sending eight aircraft, including four F-15 fighter jets, to bases in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The mission, called Atlantic Eagles, represents the first time Japanese warplanes have been stationed in Canada or Europe, underscoring Tokyo’s growing security ties with NATO. The mission was commenced on September 14 and will conclude on October 1.

The deployment involves around 180 personnel drawn from multiple bases across Japan, including the 2nd Air Wing at Chitose, the 1st Tactical Airlift Wing at Komaki, the 2nd Tactical Airlift Group at Iruma, and the 3rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Miho.

The aircraft include four F-15 fighter jets, two C-2 transporters, one KC-767 tanker, and one KC-46A aerial refueling and transport aircraft. The operation is designed to test long-distance deployment capabilities, strengthen interoperability with NATO partners, and demonstrate Japan’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) said in a statement that the mission is “based on the recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and of the Indo-Pacific is interconnected.”

This deployment follows Japan’s decision earlier this year to establish a permanent diplomatic mission to NATO in Brussels, formalizing a partnership that has steadily expanded over the past decade.

🇺🇸🇨🇦🇯🇵🇬🇧🇩🇪 Thank you 🇨🇦Goose bay for hosting us!#JASDF #F15 s have arrived in 🇨🇦 for the first time in its 71 years history since foundation. JASDF will continue deepening the cooperation with @Cdn_AirForce to contribute to the regional peace and stability.🇨🇦🤝🇯🇵 #AtlanticEagles pic.twitter.com/urcJ0URVU9

— Japan Air Self-Defense Force (@JASDF_PAO_ENG) September 17, 2025

From Pacifism to Active Defense

The Atlantic Eagles deployment illustrates Japan’s gradual departure from its postwar pacifist posture. For decades, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were largely confined to homeland defense and humanitarian missions. That stance has shifted as successive governments expanded constitutional interpretations of Japan’s right to collective self-defense.

Over the past several years, Tokyo has steadily increased its defense budget, strengthened ties with Western allies, and joined NATO drills. In 2023, the Japanese government announced its largest-ever defense spending package, with plans to acquire long-range strike capabilities, missile defense systems, and advanced aircraft.

This year, Japan also formally opened its first mission to NATO, a symbolic step that positions it as a bridge between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Defense Cooperation with Allies

The Atlantic Eagles operation was first announced during a bilateral defense ministerial meeting in Tokyo last month between British Defense Minister John Healey and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. Both sides emphasized the need for greater coordination, considering rising geopolitical tensions.

Alongside the NATO deployment, Japan is conducting joint drills with US forces from September 11 to 25. These exercises included the unveiling of the Typhon missile system on Japanese territory for the first time. The system, capable of firing advanced precision missiles, was deployed as part of a broader U.S.-Japan effort to enhance deterrence. China sharply criticized the move, calling it destabilizing.

Germany and Poland Tighten Coordination

Regional cooperation within NATO has also intensified as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in Berlin on September 16, to discuss Russia’s continued military pressure. Merz emphasized that Germany stands firmly with Poland and has expanded its air policing mission over Polish territory.

NATO also announced that eight member states, including Germany and France, will send additional aircraft and defensive assets to reinforce air defense systems in eastern Europe. These deployments are aimed at reassuring frontline states and deterring further Russian provocations.

The Atlantic Eagles’ mission reflects a turning point in Japan-NATO relations. While Japan is not a formal member of the alliance, its participation in European security demonstrates how conflicts in one region affect stability in another.

For NATO, Japan’s involvement adds weight to the alliance’s claims of global relevance. For Japan, the mission is both a test of operational readiness and a political statement of solidarity. It also signals to Beijing and Moscow that Tokyo is willing to project power beyond Asia in defense of shared interests.

Japan’s leaders are likely to present this deployment as part of a broader effort to secure a “free and open Indo-Pacific” while also supporting rules-based order in Europe. The move demonstrates a recognition that security threats are interconnected and that countering them requires cooperation across continents.

New Phase in Security Policy

For decades, Japan’s security policy was shaped by its pacifist constitution and reliance on the US alliance for protection. Today, the country is adopting a more proactive role, both regionally and globally.

The Atlantic Eagles deployment is unprecedented not only because of the locations involved, but also because it demonstrates Japan’s willingness to engage in collective defense far from its own territory. It symbolizes a new phase in which Japan is no longer content to play a purely regional role.

As NATO adapts to Russian aggression and drone warfare, and as the Indo-Pacific faces growing challenges from China and North Korea, the presence of Japanese forces in Europe signals a clear message: security in one part of the world cannot be separated from security elsewhere.