Aomori –
The deployment of cutting-edge F-35A stealth fighters on the U.S. navy’s Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture will begin within the spring of 2026, Tohoku Protection Bureau officers and others mentioned Monday.
Earlier this month, the bureau advised associated native governments, together with the town authorities of Misawa and the prefectural authorities of Aomori, that the variety of F-16 fighter jets on the base might be steadily lowered from summer time 2025 and the primary F-35A might be deployed in spring 2026. It additionally mentioned {that a} sure variety of amenities, together with hangars for fighter jets, will must be renovated or rebuilt on the Misawa base.
With hegemonic strikes by China seen intensifying, the U.S. Division of Protection plans to spend about $10 billion (¥1.55 trillion) to improve its fighter jets deployed in Japan over a number of years to strengthen deterrence within the Indo-Pacific area. On the Misawa base, it can substitute 36 F-16 fighter jets with 48 F-35A jets.
The runway on the Misawa base is collectively utilized by the U.S. navy, Japan’s Air Self-Protection Power and personal airways. The ASDF has deployed 39 F-35A jets and plans to have a complete of 42 such plane by the tip of fiscal 2024.
