JASDF Starts Deploying F-35B Stealth Fighter Jets To West Japan

JAKARTA - Japan's Air Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) began deploying F-35B stealth fighter jets in southwest Japan on Thursday, apparently preparing to operate them from aircraft carriers in line with China's increased military activity in nearby waters.

Three F-35B piloted by US personnel flew from Guam to Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, with one of the jets making vertical landings.

JASDF plans to acquire a total of 42 F-35B and deploy eight units to the base in March, as reported by Kyodo News Aug. 7.

The planned drill flight for the US-made jet, which can take off from the short runway and land vertically, has sparked a strong reaction from residents who are angry at the noise it causes.

The exercise was originally scheduled to take place on the uninhabited island of Mage in Kagoshima Prefecture, after the completion of the construction of the Self-Defense Forces base on the runway.

However, the Defense Ministry said in February it would move the training site to Nyutabaru due to construction delays.

In response to this, Miyazaki Governor Shunji Kono voiced his disappointment that the F-35B would be placed there "without any steps to ease the burden on the local population."

About 50 protesters rallied in a square near the base, lifting banners opposing the deployment of the F-35B.

Tsukasa Ebihara (71) criticized the move as "traisal" by the government after the government approved that vertical landing exercises would not be carried out in Nyutabaru.

Japan itself is modifying two Class Izumo helicopter aircraft carriers to be used as aircraft carriers, by applying heat-resistant layers to its decks among other upgrades.

The government decided to allow the two aircraft carriers to accommodate the F-35B when revising its national defense guidelines in 2018, in the face of rising Chinese military activity in the air and waters around Japan, including the East China Sea.

Ownership of aircraft carriers has long been controversial as the government has expressed its belief that "attack aircraft carriers" can be considered an offensive weapon beyond the allowed self-defense coverage based on Japan's postwar constitution.