Misawa Air Base has acquired the U.S. Air Pressure’s first F-35A Lightning II fighters to be completely primarily based in Japan, starting the transition from the F-16 to the fifth-gen plane.
Misawa Air Base, residence of the U.S. Air Pressure’s thirty fifth Fighter Wing, has acquired its first 4 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. The plane landed there on Mar. 28, 2026, marking the arrival of the service’s first F-35s to be completely primarily based there because the thirty fifth FW transitions from the F-16 Preventing Falcon to the fifth-generation fighter.
First USAF F-35s Completely in Japan
The arrival of the brand new plane is a part of the modernization plan introduced by Division of Protection in 2024 to discourage a Chinese language aggression within the area and strengthen U.S. forces in Japan. The F-35As would be a part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35Bs and U.S. Navy’s F-35Cs already primarily based within the nation at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni.
“Bringing the F-35 to Misawa underscores our long-standing dedication to Japan and the area,” mentioned U.S. Air Pressure Col. Paul Davidson, thirty fifth Fighter Wing commander. “It strengthens our skill to reply shortly and function seamlessly with our Japanese companions.”
As a part of the modernization plan, Misawa’s thirteenth and 14th Fighter Squadrons will change their 36 F-16C/Ds with 48 F-35As, which they’ll use to proceed flying the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission. Notably, Misawa’s “WW” tail flash is derived from the mission’s Wild Weasel title which, because the Vietnam Battle, has been given to models and plane used to hunt enemy air defenses.
“The Wild Weasels stand able to defeat any risk in our space of accountability and past,” mentioned Col. Jeromy Guinther, thirty fifth Operations Group commander, welcoming the brand new plane and pilots. “As you lay the muse for Misawa’s improve to a fighter integration wing, bear in mind your Wild Weasel legacy, keep prepared and deadly, and proceed to contribute to the Panther’s many generations of excellence. Cave Putorium!”
Notably, the primary 4 plane, which arrived from the U.S. after a cease at Hickam Air Pressure Base, Hawaii, aren’t newly constructed. In actual fact, three F-35s have been transferred from Hill Air Pressure Base, Utah, whereas the fourth beforehand belonged to RAF Lakenheath, UK.
Yesterdays flt of PINE11-14 have been 4x F-35A en route Misawa AB (RJSM) the place they are going to be reassigned to the thirteenth FS as they transition from the F-16CJ to the F-35A.
The thirty fifth FW primarily based at RJSM will function a fleet of 48x F-35A as soon as all acquisitions are full for each thirteenth and… pic.twitter.com/pUxg0m3Yo8
— Aux OSINT (@AUX_OSINT) March 28, 2026
These 4 F-35s might be assigned to the thirteenth Fighter Squadron, which since 2025 has been transferring its F-16s to different bases, together with Osan Air Base in South Korea. Osan has not too long ago transitioned to grow to be an F-16-only base, after the twenty fifth Fighter Squadron began a phased withdrawal of its 24 A-10 Thunderbolt II assault plane.
“The F-35 was tailor made to be a weasel platform,” mentioned Lt. Col. John Widmer, thirteenth Fighter Squadron commander. “The place legacy platforms carried out the Wild Weasel mission with bolted-on sensors or weapons, the F-35 was constructed from the bottom up as a sensor platform with the sensor fusion and quarterback functionality we convey to the struggle.”
“So far as transitioning from the F-16 to the F-35, the stealth functionality is clearly one of many largest issues,” additional added Widmer. “The sensor bundle we convey to the struggle permits us to sense the risk and handle your complete spectrum of what the enemy is fielding at us proper now. It’s continually updating, continually getting upgraded, and as we proceed ahead, it’s the place I wish to be if I must go to battle.”
Misawa’s ahead place makes it a important hub for sustaining regional stability in what has been described because the U.S. army’s largest space of accountability. Months of preparation have been required earlier than the arrival of the primary plane, with formal coaching and infrastructure updates being among the many focal factors to make sure the squadron can generate and maintain combat-ready plane.
The Modernization
The Division of Protection first introduced its modernization plan for the tactical plane primarily based in Japan on July 3, 2024. The plan featured over $10 billion of functionality investments to boost the U.S.-Japan Alliance, bolster regional deterrence, and strengthen peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific area.
The assertion additionally added that work was performed “in shut coordination with the Authorities of Japan,” demonstrating “the ironclad U.S. dedication to the protection of Japan and each international locations’ shared imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific area.” Japanese officers equally acknowledged that the federal government and officers in concerned prefectures have been nicely briefed in regards to the plans.
On of the largest factors within the plan is the alternative of Misawa’s 36 F-16C/Ds with 48 F-35As. The F-35As have been certainly anticipated to reach on the base within the spring of 2026, whereas the F-16s are being step by step phased out beginning summer season in summer season of 2025.
Misawa will not be the one base concerned within the modernization. Kadena Air Base, residence of the 18th Wing’s forty fourth and 67th Fighter Squadrons, will equally change its now retired 48 F-15C/D Eagles with 36 new F-15EX Eagle II jets.
The DoD additional mentioned it could “modify the variety of F-35B plane to assist the… modernization implementation” at MCAS Iwakuni. The bottom is presently residence to each VMFA-121 and VMFA-242, geared up with the F-35B Lightning II, and a U.S. Navy F-35C squadron, VFA-147.
