F-35Bs to Nyutabaru

The first four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35B Lightning IIs, currently undergoing testing at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas, are scheduled to deploy to Nyutabaru Air Base in Japan. Eric Kilpatrick (@KpAviationPhoto) shared photos of the aircraft on X and via his Google Drive.

Ferried by US pilots, the aircraft are expected to arrive at Nyutabaru on 7 August 2025.

Initial flights from the base are planned for September, primarily to familiarize local residents with F-35B operations, including noise levels. These flights will feature vertical landings, which were originally intended to be practiced at a new facility on Mageshima, a volcanic island off the coast. However, construction delays have necessitated conducting the training at Nyutabaru for now.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense decided to acquire 42 F-35Bs in 2018, primarily for the defense of remote islands such as the Nansei Islands. The aircraft will be deployed aboard the former helicopter carriers JS Izumo (DDH-183) and JS Kaga (DDH-184), which are currently being upgraded to support F-35B operations.

Nyutabaru will serve as the home base for the jets. Two hikotais (squadrons) were established in March 2025, although their designations have not yet been disclosed.

An additional four F-35Bs are expected to arrive in Japan by March 2026.

Credit photo: Eric Kilpatrick (@KpAviationPhoto)