The U.S. Air Force’s 35th Fighter Wing held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on April 24 to formally induct the F-35 Lightning II into operations at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. Officials from the Department of Defense described the milestone as inaugurating a new phase in fifth-generation combat capability, while also underscoring the wing’s ongoing modernization and its role in strengthening alliance integration. The formal activation of the F-35A at Misawa follows earlier indications, reported in January, that the base was being readied for a long-term deployment. This aligns with a July 2024 announcement by the Pentagon outlining plans to station 48 F-35As at the installation, replacing 36 legacy F-16CM aircraft currently in service. In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how permanent deployment of USAF F-35A in Japan is set to change power dynamics in the region ? #defenseupda

Source: How permanent deployment of USAF F – 35A in Japan is set to change power dynamics in the region ?