In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.

The JASDF closely replicated the paint scheme of the F/A-18E used in the movie Top Gun: Maverick. The F-15J belongs to the 306th TFS and was first seen when a photo was posted on twitter. The 306th TFS Golden Eagle insignia was left on the tail instead of the Top Gun emblem. Just in front of the left air intake is a blue painting listing the 306th paint crew. Also included are the 3 kill markings from the 1986 movie. This aircraft made an appearance at the Komatsu AB Air Show September 19, 2022.

Info:      F-15J Eagle 52-8951, 306th TFS, JASDF, Komatsu Air Base, Japan