Pentagon to deploy 48 F‑35A fighters at Japan's Misawa Air Base
The Pentagon has confirmed its intention to deploy up to 48 F-35A fighters at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan. This decision aims to enhance deterrence capabilities in the region. The F-35A is considered one of the most modern and advanced combat aircraft in the world.
5:39 PM EDT, July 4, 2024
Information about the planned deployment at Misawa Air Base surfaced more than a year and a half after the announcement that F-15 fighters stationed in Japan would gradually return to the United States.
American F-35A to be stationed in Japan
It has now been clarified that these F-15s will be replaced by other F-15s, which will re-deploy to Kadena Air Base, located at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago near Taiwan. The F-35A fighters will serve as additional forces and will join the Japanese F-35A fighters already stationed at Misawa Air Base. This deployment marks the first presence of American F-35As in the Indo-Pacific region.
The F-35A is a modern fifth-generation multi-role fighter developed by Lockheed Martin. It belongs to the CTOL (Conventional Take-off and Landing) class, meaning the aircraft uses conventional methods for taking off and landing.
It is a single-seat machine with a length of over 49 feet and a wingspan exceeding 33 feet. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 1.6 Mach, or approximately 1,370 mph. With mid-air refueling capabilities and no malfunctions, its range is essentially unlimited. However, when limited to its built-in fuel tanks, the range is about 1,243 miles.
Its armament includes a five-barrel GAU-22/A cannon with a 25 mm caliber. Additionally, the F-35A can carry external armaments such as AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles or aircraft bombs. The F-35A also features advanced electronic warfare systems and technology that reduce its chances of being detected in flight.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Japanese government secretary, stated in an interview with local journalists that the modernization plan of U.S. forces comes at a time when Japan faces its greatest and most complex security crisis since World War II. He referred to neighboring countries that are "intensifying their military activities."
