Japan receives first F-35 fighters at Komatsu Air Base, marking key defence milestone

Japan Begins New Chapter with First F-35s

MAY 7, 2025 – Strategically located on the western coast of Japan sits Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF) Komatsu Air Base. The air base, which is Japan’s only fighter base on the Sea of Japan coast, is now the home to a new fleet of aircraft. On April 26, 2025, the JASDF and Komatsu Air Base achieved a historic milestone with the delivery of the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft, a move that will dramatically increase their capabilities. As …

Japan receives first F-35 fighters at Komatsu Air Base, marking key defence milestone

The base, Japan’s only fighter facility on the Sea of Japan coast, welcomed three F-35 jets equipped with the latest TR-3 upgrades. One of the aircraft served as the centrepiece during a formal handover ceremony that marked the official integration of the fifth-generation fighters. “It is the beginning of a new chapter for Japan’s F-35 program,” stated JASDF Lt. Col. Ogino “VR” Masaki, Japan’s F-35 Program liaison officer. “Now we have taken a g…