U.S. Bombers Fly with Japanese Jets After China-Russia Drills

USAF B-52 bombers joined Japan’s F-35s and F-15s over the Sea of Japan, signaling allied resolve amid rising regional tensions.

U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 bombers conducted joint flights with Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighter jets over the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, Tokyo announced, in a show of force following Chinese and Russian military drills near Japan and South Korea.

The exercise came just a day after Chinese and Russian bombers carried out coordinated flights in the region, prompting both Japan and South Korea to scramble fighter jets. Taiwan also reported a second consecutive day of heightened Chinese military air activity.

Japan’s defense ministry said the operation underscored the allies’ determination to counter “any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force” and confirmed the readiness of both the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces.

China dismissed Japan’s concerns, accusing Tokyo of exaggerating the significance of the drills.

The flights highlight the intensifying military competition in Northeast Asia, where U.S. allies are seeking to demonstrate deterrence against growing Chinese and Russian activity.

Source: Tokyo/Washington by Kaori Kaneko, Tim Kelly and Idrees Ali Reuters & ©XAirForces News, 12 December 2025

Photo: The 6th Air Wing of Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-15 fighters hold a joint military drill with the U.S. B-52 bombers over Sea of Japan, in this handout picture taken by Japan Air Self-Defence Force and on December 10, 2025, and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan on December 11, 2025. (Photo by ©Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Handout via REUTERS)

Editor: Naomi A.J. Takahashi (Oceanian ©XAirForces News Editor from Japan)

Keywords: B-52Chinadefense ministryF-15F-35Japan and South Korea scramble fighter jetsJapan defense ministry statement on deterrenceJapanese jetsjoint military exercise over Sea of Japanmilitary drillsnuclear-capable bomber flights in Northeast Asiareaffirming allied resolve against unilateral status quo changesregional security tensions in Indo-Pacificresponse to China-Russia bomber drillsRussiaSea of JapanSelf-Defense Forcesshow of forceTaiwanTaiwan reports increased Chinese military air activityTokyoUS B-52 bombers fly with Japanese F-35s and F-15sUS bombersUS-Japan military cooperation and readiness postureWashington

U.S. Bombers Fly with Japanese Jets After China-Russia Drills


(12.12.2025)