Through a statement on its social media, the United States Air Force has announced the arrival of its first F-35A fighters at Misawa Air Base, after which it will be able to begin the retirement of its F-16CM Wild Weasel deployed in Japan. According to the institution, these are aircraft belonging to the 13th Fighter Squadron, which will now be stationed in the north of the island country, from where the aforementioned institution expects them to represent a significant leap in capabilities to protect both Japan and U.S. operations in the region.
Referring to this, the United States Air Force stated: “The F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron have officially arrived at Misawa Air Base, marking a significant milestone in the wing’s transition to fifth-generation aviation. The new aircraft will strengthen the United States Air Force’s ability to maintain combat-ready airpower in northern Japan, integrate with allies and partners, and support regional stability across the Indo-Pacific.”
It is worth recalling at this point that the institution has spent years announcing that it intends to replace the F-16CM Wild Weasel deployed in Japanese territory, in line with broader modernization plans already underway. In that sense, as we reported in July 2024, Washington’s plans aimed to have a fleet of 48 F-35A aircraft at Misawa Air Base, which expands the original number of 36 F-16CM that were previously based there.
On the other hand, considering the role of the F-16CM primarily focused on suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) missions, it should be noted that the arrival of the F-35A represents a logical step not only due to modernization, but also because of its qualities that are particularly suited to that role. In particular, the stealth capabilities of the fifth-generation aircraft make it especially useful for targeting enemy air defense systems and their associated radar systems, even more so with the integration of AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER) and SiAW missiles.
Finally, it should be considered that the arrival of U.S. F-35As in Japan will also allow for expanded interoperability between their respective air forces, bearing in mind that Tokyo also operates its own fleet of stealth aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin. As an illustrative example, it should be noted that on March 25 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force revealed that U.S., Japanese, and Dutch F-35 fighters were carrying out a joint exercise called Kazaguruma Guardian in the airspace surrounding Misawa Air Base; which also involved F-16 fighters, E-2D early warning aircraft, and Airbus A330 MRTT tankers.
*Image credits: Airman First Class Patrick Boyle
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