Overview
- The U.S. Air Force stationed four F-35A Lightning II jets at Misawa Air Base on Saturday to start the 35th Fighter Wing’s shift from F-16s.
- The jets are assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron as Misawa’s 13th and 14th squadrons replace 36 F-16C/Ds with a planned 48 F-35As.
- Years of upgrades and training at Misawa prepared maintainers, pilots, and munitions crews to support the stealth fighter’s higher data, power, and maintenance needs.
- Three aircraft came from Hill Air Force Base and one from RAF Lakenheath after a stop in Hawaii, showing the Air Force is drawing on existing fleets to speed the transition.
- The move advances a Pentagon plan announced in July 2024 that invests more than $10 billion, adds F-15EX jets on Okinawa, and adjusts Marine and Navy F-35 units at Iwakuni to deepen alliance integration.