Japan's fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets have completed a 6,400-kilometre flight and arrived in Australia for the first time ever

In mid-August, Japan announced the dispatch of fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters to Australia. A week and a half later, the aircraft arrived at their destination.

Here's What We Know

Japan has shipped two fifth-generation fighter jets and 55 personnel to Australia. The Japanese contingent arrived at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in the north of the country. It is not to be confused with US Air Force Base Tyndall, Florida.

The F-35A Lightning II has travelled 6,400 kilometres. Previously, Japan has only participated in expeditionary operations jointly with the US. At the same time, the fifth-generation fighters were deployed on the territory of the Land of the Rising Sun.

It should be noted that earlier this month Japan said it would send four F-35A Lightning IIs, 160 troops, as well as one each of KC-767, C-130 Hercules and Kawasaki C-2 aircraft to Japan. What influenced the reduction in troop numbers has not yet been specified.

Source: Breaking Defence