The Air Force flight display team, the Black Eagles, will make a stop in Japan on the way to World Defense Show 2026, which kicks off next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Air Force announced on Wednesday that the Black Eagles will depart from the base in Wonju, Gangwon Province, next Wednesday and make a stop at Naha Air Base in Okinawa. 

There, the team will refuel and conduct an exchange event with Blue Impulse, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. 

This will be the first time the Black Eagles stop and refuel in Japan. 

Given that South Korea and Japan do not have an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, South Korea’s military cannot, in principle, get assistance with military supplies from Japan. 

However, Japan is said to have agreed to supply fuel to the Black Eagles based on Japan Self-Defense Forces regulations on loaning supplies.