Italy's fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets have arrived in Japan for the first time ever

At the end of last month, it became known that Italy would send fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Japan for the first time in history. The aircraft have already arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Here's What We Know

Four Italian Air Force fighter jets landed at Komatsu Air Base in Japan late last week. The F-35A Lightning IIs will take part in a military exercise that began on Monday.

The planes made several stops on their way to Japan. They landed in Qatar and the Maldives, and had a two-day layover in Singapore. The stopover in the city-state was delayed by a typhoon.

The F-35A Lightning II was joined by three KC-767A aerial refuellers, a Gulfstream G550 long-range radar detection aircraft and two C-130J Super Hercules maritime search and rescue aircraft. The Japan Self-Defence Force is using KC-767 tankers and F-15 Eagle fighter jets in the exercise.

The joint exercise comes against the backdrop of both countries' involvement in the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet. The new aircraft is being developed as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), in which the UK is also participating. The fighter is expected to be available by the middle of the next decade.

Source: Defence News