12 USAF F-35A Lightning IIs are set to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan in early November for a six-month rotation — the first F-35A rotation to the Asia Pacific.
Approximately 300 Airmen and 12 F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill Air Force Base, Utah’s 34th Fighter Squadron are set to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan for a six-month rotation. The aircraft and supporting personnel are scheduled to arrive at Kadena in early November.
The deployment marks U.S. Pacific Command’s first operational tasking for the F-35A and the fighter’s Asia-Pacific debut at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) earlier this month.
The F-35A is being deployed under U.S. PACOM’s theatre security package (TSP) programme, which has been in operation since 2004.
The F-35As will join the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B variant which has been stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan since January.