A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II lands at Nyutabaru Air Base in Kyushu in August 2025. (JASDF)
Japan has deployed its first three Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft at Nyutabaru Air Base in Kyushu, with plans under way to base eight F-35B aircraft on the site in fiscal year (FY) 2025, according to a Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson.
Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani said the basing of the three aircraft at the airbase on 7 August constitutes Japan’s first deployment of the F-35B.
However, civilian communities around the airbase have expressed a concern about the environmental impact (including noise pollution) of the deployment and VTOL flight operations, according to Nakatani. This could affect efforts by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to train pilots, familiarise the service with the capabilities of the new aircraft, and conduct exercises in the area, Janes assesses.
A Japan MoD spokesperson told Janes in August that a total of “eight F-35Bs are scheduled to be deployed to Nyutabaru Air Base by March 2026”.
However, “the specific timing of the deployment of the remaining five F-35Bs is currently being co-ordinated with the US”, the spokesperson said, confirming that the aircraft delivered are in the new Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) configuration.
Criticism
While Nakatani said on 8 August that the “deployment of F-35Bs is essential for Japan to achieve and maintain air superiority and is of great significance to Japan’s national security”, he added that the MoD has also “seriously” considered the “harsh criticism from local residents regarding the implementation of vertical landing training by F-35Bs” at the Nyutabaru training site.
According to the MoD spokesperson, the ministry is “considering what kind of impact reduction” is possible.
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