F-15J Left Main Gear Damaged at Naha Airport, Runway Closed for 4 Hours After Scramble Return—The Distortion of Aging Interceptors and China Surveillance Missions

On August 18, just before 1 PM, an F-15J fighter jet (tail number 22-8809) belonging to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Naha Base damaged its left main gear during landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa Prefecture. The aircraft skidded along the runway, scraping its left wingtip and external fuel tank, and during the deceleration process, it turned 180 degrees and came to a stop facing backward. The pilot safely ejected, and there were no injuries.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, this aircraft was reportedly returning from a scramble mission, which is a response to airspace violations. Naha Airport shares its runway with civilian and Self-Defense Force aircraft, and the second runway was closed for about four hours, causing delays of up to 35 minutes for approximately 40 passenger flights.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki stated, "This is extremely regrettable," and called for an investigation into the cause.

The Frontline of China Surveillance Shouldered by Naha Base

Naha Base is home to two F-15J squadrons and an E-2C early warning aircraft unit, playing a central role in surveillance and airspace violation measures in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands. As Chinese military aircraft activities have intensified, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's scramble missions have reached several hundred annually, with many concentrated in the southwestern islands, including Naha. Recently, a scramble was recorded on August 17, and the incident involving this aircraft occurred during the routine of surveillance missions.

45 Years in Service, Aging Interceptors

The F-15J is a Japan-specific version of the F-15C/D, produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and has been in service for nearly 45 years since its introduction in 1981. A total of 223 aircraft were acquired under the Peace Eagle program, and most of them are still in active service. Although they have undergone upgrades through the Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP), the fatigue life of the airframe itself cannot be restored through upgrades.

The ongoing "Japan Super Interceptor" upgrade program aims to retrofit approximately 68 aircraft, which corresponds to about half of the existing fleet, with Raytheon-made APG-82(V)1 AESA radar and electronic warfare systems. However, the remaining half will not be included in the upgrades and will remain on the front lines in their aging condition.

Balancing Capability and Wear

In the author's view, the essence of this incident is not merely a maintenance failure. The increasing number of scramble missions is a structural problem that accelerates the fatigue of aging aircraft more quickly than usual. China continues to approach and violate airspace with military aircraft as a "gray zone" tactic at low cost, forcing Japan to conduct frequent emergency scrambles. This attrition warfare quietly erodes the availability of interceptors without the occurrence of armed conflict, such as shootdowns.

The real challenge lies in how long the aircraft that are not included in the upgrades can continue to handle the increasing surveillance missions. While the transition to the F-35 is underway, the aging F-15J must continue to fill the gap until the transition is complete. The damage to the main gear that occurred on the runway in Naha illustrated the fragility of this transition period not in numbers, but through an accident. If the same thing were to happen at the moment of scramble launch, it would create a gap in the readiness posture that protects the skies over Okinawa.