Earlier today, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force announced the arrival of three of its newly acquired F-35B Lightning II fighters from the United States at Nyutabaru Air Base, marking the beginning of the platform’s first operational deployment in the island nation. The development comes just days after Tokyo confirmed the imminent delivery of the stealth aircraft, around the same time the jets were spotted landing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
Expanding on the details, it’s worth noting that Japan had originally anticipated the arrival of four aircraft during this timeframe; however, one of the F-35Bs had to remain in the U.S. and is expected to be delivered at a later date, for which no specific timeline has yet been confirmed. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, four additional fifth-generation fighters are scheduled to arrive in Nyutabaru by March next year. It is worth recalling that the original plans called for the first aircraft to be handed over to Japanese pilots during fiscal year 2024, reflecting delays faced by the program.
Additionally, it has been reported that demonstration flights conducted by U.S. personnel are planned for September of this year, aiming to alleviate local concerns regarding the arrival of the aircraft in their region. In particular, residents have complained about the noise generated during the jets’ vertical landing maneuvers, to which the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated: “Through the flight demonstration, we will give local residents the opportunity to directly experience the F-35B’s noise characteristics, and then the MOD will explain the results of its review to the local community.”
In this context, it is worth recalling that Japan is currently working on the construction of a new air base specifically designed to accommodate F-35Bs, aiming to reduce further discontent among the population. This new facility is being built on the uninhabited island of Mageshima, located approximately 160 kilometers from Nyutabaru, the jets’ current base. According to current plans, construction of the new base is expected to be completed by 2030.
Despite the local challenges, it is important to remember that while the newly arrived F-35Bs will be operated by the Air Self-Defense Force, they were acquired to serve aboard the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Izumo and JS Kaga. These two vessels are currently classified as helicopter carriers, although work is already underway to convert them into platforms capable of operating the F-35Bs. Several joint exercises have already been carried out with allied forces to gather data and help guide the ongoing conversion work.
Finally, in a broader view of Japan’s stealth fighter procurement program, it is worth recalling that the country plans to acquire a total of 42 F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variants, which will complement the 105 conventional takeoff and landing F-35A fighters also being incorporated. With a total of 147 units planned, Japan would become the largest operator of the platform outside of the United States, its country of origin.
Image credits: @JASDF_PAO_ENG on X
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