Japan's Stealth Era Starts Now

Seen here is the JASDF's brand new F-35A Stealth Fighter at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. It is the first of ten planes to be deployed between now and April 2018 that will complete a full squadron of these controversial multi-role single engine Generation 5 fighter planes built by U.S. Defense Contractor Lockheed Martin. The JASDF plans to have 42 of these high performance fighters that will carry the long range JSM missiles to counter the growing threats posed by North Korea and those posed in the South China Sea. The F-35A is scheduled to replace Japan's remaining Generation 3 F-4 Phantoms which have been in service for over 40 years. Thier arrival officially brings Japan's Air Self Defense Force into the Stealth Era.