Japan Continues to Expand and Modernize Its Aerial Refueling Capabilities
Japan is on course to receive its fifth and sixth KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers later this year, according to a senior industry official. The development underscores Japan’s efforts to bolster its air transport and refueling capabilities amid ongoing modernization efforts.
Refueling Milestone Achieved During Multinational Exercise
During the multinational Exercise Cope North held in Guam this February, involving Australia, Japan, and the United States, a KC-46A from Japan’s fleet successfully refueled both Japanese and allied aircraft. Boeing’s Executive Director for Defense and Government Services in East Asia, John Suding, confirmed this feat but did not specify the types of coalition aircraft involved.
Expanded Refsueling Authority for Japan’s KC-46s
A Japanese air-to-air refueling standards document uploaded to the NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center in March indicates that Japan’s KC-46s have been cleared to refuel Australian aircraft and US Air Force F-35As, as well as F-15s, F-16s, and F-22s. This broader operational scope enhances Japan’s ability to participate in joint missions.
Future Fleet Expansions: Additional KC-46s on the Horizon
Beyond the fifth and sixth tankers expected this year, Japan received approval from the U.S. State Department in September 2024 to acquire nine more KC-46s. The Japanese government allocated 206.8 billion yen ($1.44 billion) in its FY 2025 defense budget to fund four of these additional aircraft, purchased in December 2024.
Japan’s Chinook Fleet Expanding with Local Assembly
Boeing Regional Director for India and the Asia Pacific, Randy Rotte, confirmed that Japan’s recent order of 17 CH-47F Block II Chinook heavy lift helicopters will be split between the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). Japan operates nearly 70 Chinooks, making it the largest operator outside the U.S., and Boeing foresees further orders to modernize the fleet.
Final assembly for these helicopters will take place in Japan, performed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), a longstanding partner that has been assembling Japanese Chinooks since the 1980s. Over 100 Chinooks have been delivered to Japan’s self-defense forces over the past four decades.
Upgrading Japan’s F-15 Fleet for Enhanced Capabilities
In addition to its aerial refueling assets, Japan is in the midst of upgrading its F-15 Eagle interceptors. Suding noted ongoing systems integration work at Boeing’s St. Louis facilities, supported by a $450 million Department of Defense contract awarded in December 2024 for radars, self-protection systems, and mission computers.
The upgrade program aims to modernize 68 F-15Js introduced in the 1980s, equipping them with advanced Raytheon AN/APG-82(v)1 multimode radars, BAE Systems AN/ALQ-239 electronic warfare systems, and new mission computers. The upgraded fighters will also receive a stand-off strike capability through the integration of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile.
Work to Be Conducted in Japan, Timeline Uncertain
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will perform the upgrades domestically, though both Boeing and MHI declined to specify exact delivery timelines when questioned. Neither provided details to Breaking Defense, directing inquiries to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for further information.
Overall, Japan’s ongoing modernization efforts, including expanding its tanker fleet, upgrading its fighters, and increasing helicopter numbers, demonstrate its commitment to maintaining a capable and interoperable aerospace force in the Pacific region.
