--- title: "Additional F-15E Strike Eagles Arrive In Diego Garcia" date: "2025-05-19" modified: "2025-05-19" authors: - name: "Howard Altman" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/more-f-15e-strike-eagles-deploy-to-diego-garcia" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "F-15" - "Fighters" - "Indo-Pacific" - "News & Features" - "U.S. Air Force" --- # Additional F-15E Strike Eagles Arrive In Diego Garcia ![U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Green, 67th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025. Directly after, the 18th Wing generated real-time sorties to strengthen Kadena’s readiness to defend Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Johnson)]() *U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Green, 67th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025. Directly after, the 18th Wing generated real-time sorties to strengthen Kadena’s readiness to defend Japan. Senior Airman James Johnson* The U.S. Air Force has increased the number of[ F-15s sent to Diego Garcia]() to provide force protection, a U.S. defense official has confirmed to *The War Zone*. The fighters are there to defend the island and the bomber contingent that has called it home for nearly two months now amid rising tensions with Iran. During America's accelerated bombing campaign of the Houthis in Yemen, [B-2s arrived at Diego Garcia]() and have [since been replaced by B-52s](). You can read more about the initial arrival of the F-15s and why they were sent there in our exclusive story [here](). “There are now six [F-15Es]() on the island,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. The official’s comments are in line with new satellite imagery reviewed by *The War Zone*. Last week, we were the first to report on the arrival of F-15s on the remote island. There were four Strike Eagles visible on Diego Garcia when we first noted fighters at the base in an archived Planet Labs satellite image of the island taken on May 16, 2025. Low resolution imagery taken today indicated that at least two more had arrived. While the official declined to say where the jets came from, open source trackers state the jets arrived from [Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan,]() located nearly 4,400 miles from Diego Garcia. https://twitter.com/SirListenalot/status/1924090290744263065 Last month, a contingent of F-15Es from the 336th Fighter Squadron (FS) at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina [forward-deployed to Kadena](). Officials at Seymour Johnson declined to comment on whether the Strike Eagles on Diego Garcia are from the 336th FS. However, their forward presence at Kadena would facilitate an ACE force protection mission to a remote island like the one currently underway. ![A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 6, 2025. The reception of advanced fighter aircraft at Kadena ensures the 18th Wing remains postured to deliver lethal and credible airpower to ensure the defense of U.S. allies and a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez)]() *A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 6, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez) A1C Karina Lopez* “As the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena is a pivotal hub for Agile Combat Employment (ACE),” [the Air Force wrote in a press release]() last month announcing the arrival of jets from the 336th, also known as the Rocketeers. “The 18th Wing will continue to receive rotational units that strengthen capabilities, such as ACE, and project combat power in concert with allies and partners.” ACE is a term that currently refers to a set of[ concepts for distributed and disaggregated operations]() centered heavily on short notice and otherwise irregular deployments, often to remote, austere, or otherwise non-traditional locales. [As we have previously noted](), “Diego Garcia has long been[ a highly strategic operating location]() for the U.S. military. Beyond its large airfield that sits in the center of the Indian Ocean, it plays many roles for the Department of Defense, including hosting Space Force operations, serving as a key port for U.S. Navy vessels, including nuclear submarines, and its lagoon provides shelter for a Sealift Command Prepositioning Ship Squadron.” ![221030-N-EJ241-1240 DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Ocean Territory (Oct. 30, 2022) – Navy Diver 2nd Class Jaden Johns, right, and Navy Diver 2nd Class Gabriel Gaona, both assigned to submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) exit the water after an Anti-terrorism Force Protection Security Swim during the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) port visit at U.S. Navy Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia. This port visit to Diego Garcia reflects the United States’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and complements the many exercises, training, operations, and the other military cooperation activities conducted by Strategic Forces to ensure they are available and ready to operate around the globe at any time. West Virginia is one of six ballistic-missile submarines stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, and is capable of carrying up to 20 submarine launched ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jan David De Luna Mercado)]() *Navy Diver 2nd Class Jaden Johns, right, and Navy Diver 2nd Class Gabriel Gaona, both assigned to submarine tender USS *Emory S. Land* (AS 39), exit the water after an Anti-terrorism Force Protection Security Swim during the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS *West Virginia* (SSBN-736) port visit at U.S. Navy Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jan David De Luna Mercado)* Historically, Diego Garcia's remote location has served as a natural barrier to attack by non-near-peer potential adversaries like Iran. However, the threats have been evolving — particularly in the form of long-range attack drones and missiles — and *The War Zone* previously raised the question of whether fighters like Strike Eagles would be needed to protect the island and its bomber guests. The multi-role F-15Es are particularly well-suited for that role. You can read more about this in our story [here](). In addition to the Strike Eagles, *The War Zone* also noted that there were four [B-52H bombers](), five KC-135 tankers, a C-17 cargo plane, and a white-colored airliner with orange nacelles — most likely an SAS airlines personnel transport flight seen in the image taken May 16. The low-resolution image we saw today shows the B-52s are still there, along with three KC-135s and the C-17, as well as the six fighters. Earlier, the island gained a lot of attention for hosting an unusually large force of six [B-2 Spirit stealth bombers]()[ that began arriving ]()in March for a clear show of force aimed primarily at Iran. The B-2s subsequently conducted[ strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi militants]() in Yemen. For a short period, there were 10 U.S. Air Force bombers on Diego Garcia, however, the B-2s began leaving about May 9th. Earlier today, Whiteman Air Force Base posted a video of the Spirits returning. “You can’t fight what you can’t see,” Whiteman said on X. “[\#B2Spirit]() stealth bombers returned home to Whiteman AFB from a deployment to Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory.” https://twitter.com/Whiteman_AFB/status/1924481917526684052 It is unknown if additional Strike Eagles will be headed to Diego Garcia or how long the ones there now will remain. We will provide updates when warranted. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com ## Author Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for *TWZ*. He writes frequently about conflict, focusing heavily on the Middle East and Ukraine, and interviews with military and intelligence officials and industry leaders from around the globe. He lives near Tampa, Florida, home of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]()