Japan arms itself with hi-tech US jet fighters in face of North Korea missiles

The fifth-generation aircraft will be based at the Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa

Carrington Walker GAU Writer and Daniel Smith

06:20 ET, 19 May 2025Updated 10:59 ET, 19 May 2025

The fighter jets arrive in Japan days after North Korea test fired missiles.(Image: (Image: Getty))

Japan has bolstered its air defenses with the addition of three advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the United States, amid escalating tensions in Asia.

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The state-of-the-art fighter jets will be stationed at Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa, situated on Japan's west coast near the Sea of Japan, also referred to as the East Sea.

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Earlier this month, North Korea allegedly launched a series of ballistic missiles traveling at 500mph into the sea, suspected to be a performance test before shipping them off to Russia.

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These missiles are expected to be deployed on Russia's frontline as it persists in its conflict with Ukraine. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey last week to negotiate peace terms.

The newly arrived jets, outfitted with the latest TR-3 avionics hardware, come to Japan following the country's cabinet approval of a record-breaking defense budget for 2025 - marking the 13th consecutive year of growth, reports the Express.

Last year saw the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) participate in extensive training exercises, including interoperability drills conducted alongside Italy and the U.S. to integrate the F-35s.

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Tokyo also dispatched the Izumo-class destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) to the western coast of the US for additional exercises, underscoring its emphasis on allied operations.

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The delivery of these aircraft falls under Washington's F-35 Lightning II Joint Program, an initiative aimed at strengthening security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.

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The US has exported three fighter jets to Japan as part of a $23billion deal.(Image: (Image: Getty))

In 2020, the US greenlit the sale of F-35 jets as part of a whopping $23billion deal, largely driven by concerns over China's military modernization efforts.

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The deal included the sale of 63 traditional F-35A variant jets and 42 F-35B jets, designed for short-takeoff and vertical-landing operations.

"The security environment around the Indo-Pacific is becoming more dynamic and unstable, and the significant refinement and enhancement of our air power is an urgent requirement for Japan," explained Lieutenant Colonel Ogino Masaki, JASDF F-35 Program liaison officer.