According to information published by the Japanese Ministry of Defense on July 29, 2025, Japan will begin deploying its first American-made F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters to the southern region of the country starting August 7, 2025. Four F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft will be stationed at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki prefecture, on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island. This move marks the operational debut of the F-35B in Japanese service. It represents a strategic effort to strengthen the country’s defense posture along the Nansei Islands chain, a key area of focus amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Read full Defense News at this link ...
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| One of the first F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is prepared for deployment as part of Japan’s new defense posture in the southern region near the Nansei Islands. (Picture source Eric Kilpatrick X account) |
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