The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), and the United States Air Force (USAF) have begun Exercise Bushido Guardian 25, a large-scale trilateral fighter drill designed to strengthen integration among the three Indo-Pacific security partners.
The exercise runs from September 29 to October 10, 2025, at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. Bushido Guardian began in 2019 as a bilateral exercise between Japan and Australia. The 2025 iteration marks the first time the USAF has joined as a full participant.
“Bushido Guardian 2025 marks a pivotal moment as we train with our Royal Australian Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force allies here at Misawa Air Base,” said US Air Force Colonel Paul Davidson, commander of the 35th Fighter Wing. “This trilateral exercise is more than just flying sorties; it’s about forging stronger bonds, sharing expertise and refining our combined tactics.”
Forces and assets deployed
Approximately 350 USAF airmen are participating, alongside 300 JASDF personnel and 100 RAAF members, for a total of 750 participants. Roughly 25 aircraft from the three nations will fly 25 missions over the course of the exercise.
Australia has deployed eight F-35A Lightning II fighters from No. 3 Squadron, supported by a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport from No. 33 Squadron. The F-35 contingent arrived in Japan in late September 2025, marking one of the largest forward deployments of the type by the RAAF.
RAAF Wing Commander Mark Biele, commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron, said the exercise goes beyond tactical training to focus on building enduring links at the aviator level.
“We are excited to take to the sky with aircraft from Japan and the United States, sharing experience and strengthening aviator-to-aviator relationships between our nations,” Biele said.
Bushido Guardian is designed to enhance combined tactics, mission planning, and integration of fifth-generation fighters. Training missions will cover air combat scenarios, aerial refuelling operations, and defensive counter-air drills.
A broader strategic backdrop
Bushido Guardian started in 2019 as a joint air exercise between Japan and Australia, with Tokyo’s intention to enhance security cooperation with partners beyond the US-Japan alliance.
For Canberra, this deployment shows Australia’s ability to project fifth-generation capabilities deep into Northeast Asia, an area with increasing strategic competition. It also demonstrates Australia’s efforts to support its role in the AUKUS partnership through real-world examples of collaboration with Japan and the US.
Tokyo continues to strengthen its defense ties with Australia through the Reciprocal Access Agreement, signed in 2022, which enables joint training on each other’s territory.
Reinforcing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
The three nations emphasize that Bushido Guardian is part of a broader commitment to maintaining a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” While officials do not directly reference China, the exercise takes place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and rapid modernization of Chinese air and missile forces.
This evolution to a three-way format echoes recent multilateral efforts by Australia, the US, and Japan. Earlier in 2025, during Exercise Cope North in Guam, the three air forces conducted joint operations that integrated aircrew, maintenance, security forces, logistics, and intelligence units.
