South Korea's Air Force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, and the JASDF's Blue Impulse aerobatic team during a rare encounter — January 28, Naha City. (©Sankei by Naoki Otake)
On January 28, South Korea's Air Force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, made their first-ever landing at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF) Naha Air Base for refueling. This also marked the first time the JASDF has provided refueling support to the South Korean Air Force. The visit also featured a rare encounter between the Black Eagles and JASDF Blue Impulse training aircraft, as well as F-15 fighter jets.
Nine Black Eagles aircraft appeared one after another over Naha Air Base starting around 10 AM. The team stopped in Naha while en route to an international defense equipment exhibition in Saudi Arabia. After receiving fuel support from the JASDF, pilots from both forces interacted and took commemorative photos.
Strengthening Defense Relations
The stopover is widely seen as a symbolic step toward improving Japan–South Korea defense ties. A similar refueling plan en route to the Middle East in November 2025 was canceled following a territorial dispute over flights near Takeshima.
Afterward, joint exercises between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean Navy, as well as South Korean participation in a music festival hosted by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, were postponed at South Korea's request. However, at a summit meeting on January 13, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed a policy of deepening security cooperation.
Japan's Defense Vice Minister Masahisa Miyazaki said that as the regional security environment becomes increasingly severe, defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea is extremely important. He added that the Black Eagles' first visit carries "great symbolic significance."
Black Eagles commander Colonel Noh Nam-seon said he hopes the exchange will deepen mutual understanding and trust and help advance defense cooperation between the two countries.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Naoki Otake, The Sankei Shimbun
