Mitsubishi F-15J

The Mitsubishi F-15J is the Japanese licence-built version of the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle, an all-weather air superiority fighter flown by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Japan chose the Eagle in December 1975 as a replacement for its F-104J and F-4EJ fighters, and by April 1978 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was the primary contractor with a licence to build the F-15C and the two-seat F-15D. The first examples were built in the United States, and from 1981 final assembly was carried out in Japan by Mitsubishi. The air force acquired 203 F-15J single-seaters and 20 F-15DJ two-seaters. The aircraft matches the American F-15C and F-15D except for its electronic countermeasures, radar warning system and nuclear equipment, and its Pratt and Whitney F100 engines are built under licence by IHI Corporation. The fleet has been upgraded in stages, with a Japan Super Interceptor programme confirmed in 2022.