On September 7, 2026, Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2A/B fighters landed at U-Tapao International Airport in Chon Buri Province, Thailand after a brief refueling stop before heading to India to participate in the “Veer Guardian 26” joint aerial exercise between Japan and India from September 9 to 21.
According to Thai newspaper “Thairath,” the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft dispatched to India include F-2A/B fighters, C-2 transport planes, and a United States Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
The F-2 fighters are part of the 8th Air Wing based at Iruma Air Base in Japan. This stopover holds symbolic significance as it marks the first time Japanese combat aircraft have landed in Thailand since the end of World War II. Previously, Japanese military aircraft visiting Thailand were mainly transport planes and aerial refueling aircraft.
The F-2 is a collaborative effort between Japan and the United States, based on the F-16 platform but with modifications tailored to Japan’s maritime defense needs. It is primarily used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.