U.S. B-52 Bombers Fly with Japanese Jets in Major Show of Force Amid Regional Tensions
U.S. B-52 bombers joined Japanese fighter jets over the Sea of Japan in a major show of force following China-Russia drills. The joint operation highlights growing U.S.–Japan military coordination amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.
The United States and Japan conducted a high-profile joint air operation over the Sea of Japan, with U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bombers flying in formation alongside Japanese fighter jets, in a move described by Tokyo as a demonstration of allied resolve. The mission on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, involved two U.S. B-52 bombers and a group of six Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighters, including F-35 stealth aircraft and F-15 air-superiority jets, according to official statements.
Tokyo’s Defence Ministry said the operation was held as a show of force following recent joint military drills by Chinese and Russian strategic bombers in the East China Sea and western Pacific — drills that prompted Japanese and South Korean fighter jets to scramble and monitor the activity
The allied flight over international airspace was intended to reaffirm the U.S.–Japan alliance’s determination to deter any unilateral attempts to change the regional status quo by force, while also showcasing the integrated readiness of both countries’ air forces. Japan and the United States have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific amid rising military posturing by regional powers.
The coordinated air operation underscores the strategic cooperation between Tokyo and Washington at a time of heightened tensions, following incidents such as Chinese warplanes locking radar on Japanese fighters and expanded joint patrols by Russian and Chinese long-range bombers near Japanese airspace.
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