Tokyo, July 31 - Japan’s defense modernization, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), is preparing to receive its first batch of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters in early August 2025. This delivery marks a pivotal step in enhancing Japan’s air and naval capabilities, particularly in response to the evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. The initial four F-35Bs are scheduled to arrive at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, located on the eastern coast of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island. These Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft, built in the United States at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, will be flown to Japan by American pilots, underscoring the close collaboration between the U.S. and Japan in integrating these advanced fifth-generation fighters into the JASDF’s operations.
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Japan’s acquisition of the F-35B is part of a broader defense strategy to bolster its capabilities in the face of regional challenges, particularly in the Nansei Islands, which stretch from Kyushu to within 70 miles of Taiwan. The F-35B’s STOVL capabilities make it uniquely suited for operations from austere locations and small airstrips, as well as Japan’s two Izumo-class helicopter carriers, JS Izumo and JS Kaga, which are being modified to support fixed-wing aircraft. The JS Kaga recently completed sea trials in November 2024 off the coast of Southern California, where U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs conducted successful take-off and landing tests. These trials followed earlier tests on JS Izumo in 2021, marking Japan’s return to operating fixed-wing aircraft from naval vessels for the first time since World War II. The modifications to these ships, officially designated as “multi-functional destroyers” due to Japan’s constitutional constraints on offensive weapons, include heat-resistant flight decks and reconfigured internal compartments to accommodate F-35B operations.
The delivery of these first four F-35Bs is part of Japan’s ambitious plan to procure 42 F-35Bs alongside 105 F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variants, making it the largest export customer of the F-35 program outside the United States. The JASDF has already integrated over 30 F-35As at bases such as Misawa and Komatsu, with the latter hosting a delivery ceremony for three F-35As equipped with the advanced TR-3 avionics upgrade in April 2025. The F-35B, however, introduces new operational flexibility, enabling Japan to project air power from both land and sea, enhancing deterrence in a region marked by increasing tensions, particularly around the East and South China Seas. To prepare for the F-35B’s arrival, the JASDF established a temporary F-35B squadron at Nyutabaru Air Base in March 2025, with approximately 110 personnel tasked with managing the transition and integration of the aircraft. The base has received significant upgrades, including a new air operations center, hangar, and supply depot, as well as an underground command center to enhance resilience against potential attacks. Originally, vertical landing training was planned for a new air base on Mageshima Island, 100 miles south of Nyutabaru, designed to simulate carrier operations. However, delays in Mageshima’s construction, now projected for completion in 2029 or 2030, have shifted vertical landing training to Nyutabaru, raising concerns among local residents about noise levels. To address these concerns, a demonstration flight is planned in September 2025 to showcase the aircraft’s characteristics, including its noise profile during vertical landings.
The F-35B’s advanced capabilities, including its stealth coating, AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar, and AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System, provide Japan with unparalleled situational awareness and multi-role mission flexibility. The aircraft can carry internal weapons such as AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air engagements, as well as precision-guided munitions like the GBU-12 Paveway II for ground and naval targets, maintaining its stealth profile. Japan’s integration of the F-35B is further supported by interoperability exercises with allies, including observations of Italian Navy F-35B operations on the ITS Cavour in 2024 and joint drills with U.S. forces. This delivery represents a transformative moment for Japan’s defense posture, enabling the JASDF to operate one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets from both land and sea. By 2031, Japan aims to have 40 F-35Bs in its inventory, with a second squadron planned for Nyutabaru by 2029. As the Indo-Pacific security environment grows increasingly complex, the F-35B’s arrival strengthens Japan’s ability to contribute to regional stability and deterrence, reinforcing its strategic partnership with the United States and other allies.