The US Air Force has redeployed F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighters to Japan following the retirement of the F-15 Eagle

Fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II multirole fighters have landed at Kadena Air Base in Japan. They will temporarily replace the obsolete F-15 Eagle aircraft.

Here's What We Know

The 355th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing became fully operational in February. The F-35A Lightning II fighters, based at Eielson, Alaska, arrived on the Japanese island of Okinawa this week.

The U.S. Air Force officially announced in the fall of 2022 that the F-15 Eagle, which was based on Okinawa Island, would retire after 43 years of flying. A month later, the process of decommissioning the aircraft was launched. It will last for two years.

Fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters began arriving at the Kadena base in November. The US Air Force is also considering deploying X-58A Valkyrie drones in Japan.

The 18th Air Wing declined to say how many F-35A Lighting II fighters had arrived in Japan. Local newspaper Okinawa Times, citing anonymous sources, wrote that 12 fifth-generation aircraft had landed at the base.

According to 18th Wing spokesman 1st Lt Robert Dabbs, the deployment of the F-35A to Japan is temporary. The aircraft will provide a permanent fighter capability in the region. Dabbs also pointed out that the United States Air Force has not yet decided on a permanent replacement for the F-15.

Source: Stars and Stripes