Japan F-35B Fighter Jet: Japan buy F-35B stealth fighter jets worth $23.11 billion from America; read details here
Tokyo: The first batch of F-35B stealth fighter fighters, which Japan bought from the US for $23.11 billion (about ₹1.93 lakh crore), has been deployed. The fighter planes have reached the Miyazaki province’s Nyutabaru Airbase. Given China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, this step is seen as very significant. These planes will be flown by Japan from helicopter carriers JS Izumo and JS Kaga, which are currently undergoing aircraft carrier conversion. Following successful tests on both warships, the F-35B will be deployed aboard Izumo starting in 2027 and on Kaga starting in 2028.
What makes the F-35B unique?
The F-35B is a fighter jet with the ability to take off and land vertically (STOVL) and is stealth (hidden from radar). This implies that this jet can land anywhere, even a short airfield or an aircraft carrier, and can take off without a lengthy runway.
What is the plan of Japan?
Japan intends to purchase 147 F-35 fighter planes in total, including 42 F-35B (STOVL) and 105 F-35A (CTOL). With this, it will surpass America as the second-largest F-35 operator. For these aircraft, a $23.11 billion contract was reached.
Japan is strengthening its southern islands’ defenses against China with these planes. On Mageshima Island, a new runway is being built so that F-35B flight training may take place there. But until 2030, training will be conducted at Nyutabaru Air Base.
The F-35A is assembled and repaired in a FACO (Final Assembly & Check Out) facility constructed by Japan near Nagoya. Nonetheless, the Lockheed Martin facility in Texas, USA, is producing F-35Bs. According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, eight more F-35Bs will be delivered in 2025. The delivery timetable is currently being established for a total of twelve aircraft.
An incident and a protest on a training flight
On the day the F-35B was deployed, a Japanese F-2A fighter plane went down in the ocean. Although the pilot was saved, F-2A flights are now prohibited for safety inspections after the incident. The effect on the ecology and noise has sparked protests from the local population. To allay people’s fears, US pilots will conduct test flights in September.