Japan’s Ministry of Defense held a ceremony on February 7 that officially marked the deployment of F-35B fighters at Nyutabaru Air Base, in the south of the country.
The event symbolizes the permanent introduction of the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the F-35 at one of Japan’s main air defense bases.
According to the ministry, the ceremony celebrated the start of F-35B operations at Nyutabaru, a base traditionally dedicated to regional surveillance and airspace defense missions. The arrival of the new aircraft significantly expands the installation’s capabilities, enabling operations from shorter runways and increasing flexibility in the employment of air power.
The F-35B is a next-generation stealth fighter designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL), allowing it to operate from less developed airfields or in scenarios with limited infrastructure. This characteristic adds a new layer of operational resilience to Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
The ceremony was attended by Yoshida, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, who addressed the personnel assigned to the unit and carried out a direct inspection of the F-35B aircraft.
Japan has been gradually expanding its fleet of F-35 fighters, incorporating different variants to meet multiple operational requirements. While the country already operates the conventionally taking off and landing F-35A, the F-35B offers greater basing flexibility and strengthens the air forces’ response capability across a range of scenarios.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the deployment of the F-35B at Nyutabaru is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen air operations capabilities and ensure the protection of Japanese airspace.
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Source and images: Japan Ministry of Defense | X @ModJapan_jp. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
