Boeing has publicly shown the first F-15EX Eagle II intended for Kadena Air Base in Japan in full 18th Wing markings and the squadron’s ZZ tail flash. The aircraft, serial 22-0022, first flew from Boeing’s St. Louis facility on 4 August in primer paint and returned to the air on 15 August after receiving its full livery.
The jet is understood to be the first of Kadena’s planned F-15EX fleet and is expected to serve initially with the 67th Fighter Squadron before the 44th Fighter Squadron follows. Kadena is due to receive 36 F-15EXs to replace ageing F-15C/Ds and strengthen the USAF’s posture at the strategically important Okinawa base.
The public reveal comes even as the broader fielding schedule has slipped. First arrivals were once expected in spring 2026, but the current outlook points to the first permanent F-15EXs reaching Japan in 2027, with the fleet completed in 2028. The aircraft’s appearance in squadron colours shows progress in the programme, although it does not confirm that a permanent on-base delivery has taken place yet.