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F-35 LIGHTNING II
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Operator profile – Japan
apan’s Ministry of Defense, US
Forces Japan, Pacific Air Forces and
Lockheed Martin formally unveiled
the first Japan Air Self-Defense Force
(JASDF) F-35A delivered to Misawa Air
Base, on February 24, 2018. The JASDF’s
3rd Air Wing is the first unit to operate the
country’s F-35A and aircraft 89-8706 (AX-
06) had arrived at the base on January 26.
By June 2018, seven F-35As were at
Misawa following the transfer of the five
aircraft used for training at Luke Air
Force Base, Arizona. The Lightning IIs –
69-8701 (AX-01, USAF/14-5114), 69-8702
(AX-02, USAF/14-5115), 79-8703 (AX-03,
USAF/14-5116), 79-8704 (AX-04, USAF/14-
5117) and 79-8705 (AX-05) – arrived at
Misawa on May 28. At Misawa they joined
the Rinji F-35A Hikotai, which will be
redesignated 302 Hikotai once this unit
relinquishes its current Phantoms.
The five F-35As from Luke joined two
other JASDF aircraft already at Misawa- 89-8706 (AX-06) and 89-8707 (AX-07) –
which arrived on January 26 and May 15
respectively. Three more will be delivered
Having commenced initial training at Luke AFB, the Japan Air Self-
Defense Force has begun transferring F-35s to its base at Misawa.MISAWA MAS TERS
ABOVE: The rst Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A successfully completed its maiden ight
from the Fort Worth, Texas, F-35 factory on August 24, 2016. AX-01 was own by Lockheed
Martin’s F-35 test pilot Paul Hattendorf. Lockheed Martin/Liz Lutz
BELOW: AX-01 returns to Fort Worth following its rst ight. Lockheed Martin/Beth Steel