Japan Deploys U.S.-Made F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing Fighter Jets in First Operational Service.

Japan deployed its first U.S.-made F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter jets into operational service on February 7, 2026, during a ceremony at Nyutabaru Air Base. The move marks a significant shift in Japan’s airpower posture, strengthening flexible defense options for its southwestern islands.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force formally placed the U.S.-made F-35B Lightning II into frontline service on February 7, 2026, holding a deployment commemoration ceremony at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture. According to information published by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the operational introduction of the short takeoff and vertical landing variant reflects Tokyo’s accelerating focus on distributed and survivable air operations amid a tightening regional security environment.
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Japanese defense officials and Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel attend the F-35B deployment commemoration ceremony at Nyutabaru Air Base on February 7, marking the STOVL stealth fighter's official entry into frontline service. (Picture source: Japan MoD)

Japan’s F-35B deployment is the result of a long-term procurement decision formalized in December 2018, when the Japanese government approved a revised National Defense Program Guidelines package authorizing the acquisition of 42 F-35B aircraft. A central driver behind this decision was the requirement to field a fifth-generation fighter capable of operating from sea-based platforms, specifically the JS Kaga (DDH/CVM-184). The procurement is conducted under U.S. Foreign Military Sales contracts with the United States government, with Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor. The first Japanese F-35B aircraft was delivered in 2024 for training and evaluation, followed by additional deliveries to support pilot conversion, deck landing qualification preparation, and the gradual buildup of operational capability. The Nyutabaru deployment marks the transition from the introductory phase toward an operational force that will ultimately support maritime aviation missions.

The ceremony took place at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, now designated as one of the principal hubs for Japan’s F-35B force. Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Yoshida attended the event, delivered an address to the unit members, and conducted a close inspection of the newly deployed aircraft on the flight line. In his remarks, Yoshida highlighted the growing importance of flexible, survivable airpower in safeguarding Japan’s territorial integrity, particularly amid increasingly complex regional security challenges.

Within the broader F-35 family, the F-35B occupies a uniquely demanding engineering niche. While all F-35 variants share the same core stealth design, sensor fusion architecture, and mission systems, the F-35B is the only version capable of short takeoff and vertical landing operations. This capability is enabled by a shaft-driven lift fan positioned behind the cockpit, coupled with a three-bearing swivel nozzle on the main engine and roll control nozzles in the wings. Together, these systems allow the aircraft to transition between conventional flight and vertical landing while maintaining stealth characteristics, a capability unmatched by any other fifth-generation fighter.

The integration of the STOVL (short takeoff and vertical landing) capability fundamentally shapes the F-35B’s role and design. Compared to the F-35A, the F-35B sacrifices some internal fuel volume and weapons payload to accommodate the lift fan and associated drive systems. However, this tradeoff enables operation from short, damaged, or improvised runways, as well as from aviation-capable ships without catapults or arresting gear. For Japan, whose air bases and remote islands are exposed to long-range missile threats, this basing flexibility is considered more valuable than maximum range or payload.

Despite these structural differences, the F-35B retains the complete combat systems suite of the F-35 program. It is equipped with the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, a distributed aperture system, an electro-optical targeting system, and a highly integrated sensor fusion architecture that presents pilots with a single, coherent tactical picture. This allows the F-35B to perform air superiority, precision strike, intelligence gathering, and command-and-control roles simultaneously, acting as a force multiplier rather than a standalone strike aircraft.

The F-35B was specifically selected to enable fixed-wing aviation from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels, most notably the JS Kaga, an aircraft-carrying multi-role cruiser previously classified as a multi-purpose operation destroyer. The ship is undergoing extensive modifications to support STOVL fighter operations, including reinforced and thermally protected flight decks, updated aviation fuel systems, and enhanced command-and-control facilities. This integration allows Japan to deploy fifth-generation airpower at sea without constructing traditional aircraft carriers, consistent with constitutional and doctrinal constraints.

Nyutabaru Air Base was chosen as a primary land-based operating and training location due to its mature fighter infrastructure and access to suitable training airspace. The base serves as the center for F-35B pilot training, maintenance qualification, and operational readiness, while also supporting preparations for future shipborne operations. Exercises conducted from Nyutabaru are expected to increasingly emphasize dispersed operations, rapid redeployment, and joint maritime-air missions.

The F-35B acquisition forms part of Japan’s broader participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program, under which the country will operate 147 F-35 aircraft, including 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B fighters. The F-35A remains optimized for sustained land-based air defense missions, while the F-35B adds a new layer of operational depth by enabling sea-based and forward-deployed fifth-generation airpower.

Compared with the carrier-optimized F-35C used by the U.S. Navy, which features a larger wing and reinforced landing gear for catapult-assisted launches, the F-35B achieves carrier compatibility through vertical landing rather than launch systems. This makes it particularly suited to smaller decks and amphibious or multi-role aviation ships, aligning precisely with Japan’s naval force structure.

The integration of the F-35B into Japan’s force structure carries significant strategic implications. It allows Japan to sustain air operations even if major bases are neutralized, extend air cover over maritime approaches, and rapidly reinforce remote islands. In a regional environment characterized by long distances, missile proliferation, and contested airspace, the F-35B provides Japan with a survivable, adaptable fifth-generation air combat capability.

The Japan Ministry of Defense confirmed that additional F-35B aircraft will be delivered in stages, alongside continued pilot training and shipboard integration efforts. Authorities emphasized that flight safety, joint interoperability, and the gradual achievement of full operational readiness remain top priorities as Japan advances toward sustained STOVL fighter operations.

In this context, the Nyutabaru F-35B deployment represents more than a ceremonial milestone. It marks a structural transformation in Japan’s air and maritime combat doctrine, introducing operational flexibility not previously available to the Self-Defense Forces and reshaping how Japan intends to defend its airspace, sea lanes, and island territories in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific environment.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.