The deployment of F-35A stealth fighters to Misawa Air Base is part of the US-Japan cooperation framework on defense equipment overhaul and maintenance.
Kyodo News Agency reported on December 1 that the US military will begin deploying advanced F-35A stealth fighters to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan in the spring of 2026.
This is part of the framework of cooperation on overhaul and maintenance of defense equipment between the US and Japan.
According to the latest information provided by the Japanese Ministry of Defense to local authorities, the US side also plans to repair or rebuild some related infrastructure at the Misawa base such as hangars.
In July, the US Department of Defense announced that it would deploy 48 F-35A aircraft to this base to replace the fleet of 36 F-16 fighter jets that are preparing to be taken out of service.
However, the announcement did not specify a specific time for this activity. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force began deploying F-35As to Misawa base in 2018 to protect airspace.
The F-35A is a fifth-generation stealth fighter manufactured by the US company Lockheed Martin, modified to jam enemy radars and equipped with a high-performance radar system that can detect approaching targets.
TB (summary)