For the first time since World War II, Japan has regained fixed-wing aviation capability for aircraft carriers, marking a historic milestone. Three F-35B Lightning II fighter jets, capable of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL), have arrived at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF) 8th Air Wing, the aircraft will serve aboard the JS Izumo and JS Kaga helicopter destroyers, both of which have been modernised to support F-35B operations.
Commissioned in 2015, JS Izumo was originally designed for anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance missions. However, under a modernisation programme approved in 2018, Tokyo reinforced the ship’s flight deck, added heat-resistant coating, and modified the bow design, enabling full F-35B operational capability.
As part of its total order of 147 F-35s, Japan plans to acquire 42 F-35Bs. These new jets will bolster the defence of Japan’s southwestern islands and provide strategic advantage against China’s growing regional activities.
