The Japanese Ministry of Defense held a ceremony on February 7 to officially announce the deployment of F-35B fighter jets at Nitawara Air Base in southern Japan.
This event marks the first time that the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the F-35 has been deployed regularly at one of Japan’s major air defense bases.
The Ministry of Defense stated that the ceremony celebrated the official start of operations of the F-35B at the Nittahara base. The base used to be mainly responsible for regional surveillance and airspace defense tasks. The arrival of new types of fighters has greatly enhanced the base’s capabilities, enabling it to perform missions on shorter runways and increasing the flexibility in the use of air combat power.
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The F-35B is a latest-generation stealth fighter with short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and can operate at airports with limited infrastructure or poor conditions. This feature adds new operational resilience to the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
The ceremony was attended by Yoshida, Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Defense. He addressed the officers and soldiers assigned to the unit and conducted an on-site inspection of the F-35B fighter jets.
Japan is gradually expanding its F-35 fighter fleet to meet diverse combat needs. In addition to the traditional take-off and landing F-35A, the F-35B provides higher base deployment flexibility and enhances the Air Force’s adaptability in various scenarios.
The Ministry of Defense pointed out that the deployment of F-35B at Nittahara Base is an important part of continuously strengthening air combat capabilities and ensuring the security of Japan’s airspace.
Source and image: Ministry of Defense of Japan | X @ModJapan_jp. This content is produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
