Japan has officially started training flights with the stealth fighter F-35B Lightning II at Nyutabaru Air Base, marking an important milestone in the modernization of its Self-Defense Forces.
The first flight took place on November 4, 2025, and is part of the initial training phase of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), focused on short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations. The program includes short takeoffs, vertical landings, and “touch-and-go” maneuvers, with missions lasting between one and two hours.
To reduce noise impact on local residents, the JASDF has pledged to limit vertical landings to 80 per month, including around 20 night flights. U.S. pilots conducted demonstrations at the base in September to reassure residents, and the Japanese government is building a new facility on Mageshima Island where such maneuvers can be carried out without causing disturbance. So far, five F-35B aircraft have already been delivered, and another three are expected to arrive by the end of the fiscal year, completing the first batch of eight jets.
Japan plans to operate part of its fleet of 42 F-35Bs aboard the JS Kaga and JS Izumo, which are currently being modified to accommodate the jets. Nyutabaru Air Base currently houses a temporary squadron, but the Ministry of Defense intends to reactivate the 202nd Tactical Fighter Squadron in 2026 as a permanent unit. In addition to the F-35B, the country already uses F-35A variants, with 47 aircraft currently in service. While the F-35A is produced under license in Japan, the F-35B is manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @JASDF_PAO_ENG | This content was created with assistance from AI and reviewed by the editorial team
新田原基地周辺地域に向けたF-35B飛行実演
空自35Bニュータ初の短距離離陸
納入時に消えていたロービジ日の丸🔘を視認して、改めて本邦の35Bだと実感しました🫡
航空自衛隊 臨時F-35B飛行隊
2025/09/17(Wed)
RJFN/Nyutabaru Air Base
Lockheed Martin F-35B(59-8204)
STOVL Demonstration Flight pic.twitter.com/uuPbmCKXzK— ﾏﾛﾀﾞﾖｰ (@Marodayooooo) September 17, 2025
