The Phantom Burai

(from ebookjapan):

Tetsuo Kanda, a Phantom II pilot belonging to the Air Self-Defense Force's Hyakuri Air Base, and Hiromi Kurihara, a navigator belonging to Misawa Air Base. They are both highly skilled air Self-Defense Force officers, but because of their personalities, they are treated as troublemakers by those around them.

Ota, the commander of Hyakuri Air Base, transfers Kurihara to Hyakuri to counter Kanda. The two men rebel against each other, but recognizing each other's skills, they hit it off and grow up to become the exclusive pilots of Unit 680...

Along with "Area 88," this is one of Kaoru Shintani's best-known works. A masterpiece of vivid human drama based on the author Buronson's work experience as a Japan Self-Defense Forces officer.