Towards the end of last month, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) announced the incorporation of its first three F-35A stealth fighters equipped with the TR-3 configuration, the newest available for the platform. The corresponding reception ceremony took place on April 26 at Komatsu Air Base, the only one located on the coast of the Sea of Japan that hosts JASDF fighter aircraft, an occasion on which one of the recently arrived aircraft was displayed.
Regarding the arrival of these advanced platforms, Lieutenant Colonel Ogino Masaki, who serves as liaison officer for Japan’s F-35 Program, stated: “It is the beginning of a new chapter for Japan’s F-35 program. We have now taken a great step toward building a robust and layered structure that will allow us to take full advantage of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft for our defense capabilities and readiness (…) The F-35 plays a key role not only in strengthening our air defense posture, but also in contributing to Japan’s ability to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
It is worth noting at this point that Tokyo committed to the acquisition of a total of 147 F-35 fighters, making it one of the main foreign customers of the platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Of this fleet currently being formed, about 105 fighters are of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A variant, while the other 42 aircraft belong to the F-35B STOVL (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) variant.
The latter were acquired with the aim of being able to deploy them in the future from the two helicopter carriers operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, namely the JS Izumo and JS Kaga. Currently, the institution is working on the necessary design modifications to both ships in order to convert them into platforms capable of operating these aircraft, with various tests having been conducted in recent months with support from the U.S. to advance the project. In addition, Japanese officers evaluated the platform’s capabilities aboard the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour, reflecting the relevance of the F-35 program’s partners in Japan’s plans.
Finally, it is worth highlighting that both for Japan and for the U.S. (as well as other program partners), the delivery of F-35 fighters configured to the TR-3 standard has faced multiple delays that hindered the formation of squadrons within their respective Armed Forces. One of the clearest examples is found in September 2024, in a case that affected U.S. timelines for incorporating the units the manufacturer had kept in storage awaiting the installation of the upgrades that make up the update package in question, with delays estimated at up to 18 months.
Image credits: @JasdfKomatsu on X
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