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US deploys F-35 fighters to Japan’s closest point to Russia.
The U.S. Air Force will deploy two full squadrons of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs to Japan’s closest point to Russian territory, Kyoto News reported, citing Japan Today, which referenced plans from Washington and Tokyo to begin the deployment in 2026.
In July, the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw 36 F-16 fighter jets based at Misawa Air Base and replace them with 48 F-35As.
Ahead of their arrival, the military installation will be undergoing modifications to accommodate the new aircraft, with a particular focus on the reconstruction of hangars.
Misawa Air Base, located in the northernmost part of Japan, is the U.S. military’s furthest north installation. Situated in Aomori Prefecture on Honshu Island, the base has historically served as a hub for reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union and China during the 1950s.
Among all U.S. facilities in the Indo-Pacific region [excluding Alaska], Misawa is the closest to Russia. The distance between Misawa and Vladivostok, home to the Russian Pacific Fleet’s main base, is just 819 kilometers. “The deployment of F-35s to Japan comes amid growing security concerns linked to China, North Korea, and Russia,” the Pentagon said earlier.
Misawa Air Base, located in the northernmost part of Japan on Honshu Island, has long been a strategically important facility for the U.S. military.
Situated in Aomori Prefecture, it is just 819 kilometers [510 miles] from Vladivostok, making it one of the closest American military installations to Russian territory.
Historically, Misawa has played a key role in operations across the Indo-Pacific region, serving as a crucial base for reconnaissance, air superiority, and intelligence-gathering missions.
The base was established in 1956, during the Cold War, and quickly became an essential hub for U.S. operations in the region. In the 1950s and 1960s, Misawa hosted reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union and China, gathering intelligence during a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and the communist bloc.
These missions were particularly critical in monitoring Soviet military movements and assessing the capabilities of Soviet aircraft and missile systems. The base’s proximity to the Soviet Union made it a prime location for such operations, and it played a pivotal role in U.S. Cold War strategy.
Through the years, Misawa continued to evolve with the changing demands of global security. In the 1980s, the base was home to U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom II fighters, which were stationed there as part of the broader Pacific defense strategy.
These aircraft played a crucial role in maintaining air superiority during the Cold War and were involved in numerous training exercises and regional deterrence operations. In the 1990s, the base saw the introduction of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, further cementing its role as a key element in the U.S. Pacific fleet’s operations.
Today, Misawa remains a vital part of the U.S. Air Force’s presence in the Pacific. It now hosts a squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which continue to perform a variety of roles, including air-to-air combat, precision strikes, and reconnaissance.
The base also serves as the home for the 35th Fighter Wing, a key component of the Pacific Air Forces [PACAF]. This wing provides combat-ready forces to support U.S. and allied interests across the Pacific and beyond.
In addition to the F-16s, Misawa supports a variety of other aircraft, including E-3 Sentry AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System] aircraft, which provide critical surveillance and command and control capabilities for air operations in the region.
In recent years, Misawa’s strategic importance has only grown, especially in light of rising tensions in the region. The base has been a hub for operations aimed at countering threats from North Korea, China, and Russia.
It has served as a forward base for humanitarian missions, disaster relief operations, and regional security operations, including joint training exercises with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and other allied nations.
In July 2023, the U.S. announced that it would replace 36 F-16s at Misawa with 48 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs by 2026. This move highlights the growing importance of Misawa as a forward-deployed base for the U.S. Air Force, capable of conducting advanced stealth operations and countering evolving threats in the region.
The introduction of the F-35s will further enhance the base’s ability to perform both air dominance and precision strike missions, as well as enhance its capability for integrating with regional allies in a more robust and dynamic manner.
Misawa is also home to a robust and diverse range of support units, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance [ISR] capabilities, that allow it to serve as a key node in the U.S. military’s network of bases across the Indo-Pacific.
This ensures that the base remains an indispensable part of the United States’ strategic posture in the region, capable of supporting a wide variety of missions, from conventional deterrence to high-end combat operations.
As a forward-deployed base, Misawa continues to play an essential role in maintaining regional stability and projecting American power in the Pacific.
Its unique location, advanced infrastructure, and proximity to Russia’s Far East make it a critical asset in any future conflict scenarios. With its capabilities expanding to include the F-35 Lightning II, Misawa Air Base will remain a cornerstone of U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific for years to come.
In the event of a conflict with Russia or China, Misawa Air Base would serve as a critical launch point for U.S. Air Force operations, particularly with the impending deployment of F-35A Lightning IIs.
The base’s geographical location, just 819 kilometers from Russia’s Far East and in close proximity to key Chinese air defense zones, would make it a linchpin in any U.S. strategy to assert air dominance and maintain regional stability in the face of aggression.
The F-35s based at Misawa would be utilized across a wide spectrum of operations, from tactical air superiority to precision strike and advanced reconnaissance missions.
Given its strategic positioning, the F-35s deployed at Misawa would likely be tasked with penetrating contested airspace, where advanced enemy air defense systems could pose a significant challenge.
The F-35’s stealth capabilities, coupled with its advanced sensors and electronic warfare [EW] systems, would be pivotal in ensuring access to high-threat areas. The F-35A’s low radar cross-section would allow it to conduct deep strikes into heavily defended regions, such as the Russian Far East or Chinese coastal regions, without being easily detected or intercepted by enemy radar.
These operations would be conducted alongside joint and coalition forces, utilizing a network of sensors and communications to gather real-time intelligence and coordinate multi-domain operations.
One of the key missions for F-35s from Misawa would be to conduct suppression or destruction of enemy air defenses [SEAD/DEAD]. In a conflict scenario, Russia and China would likely deploy advanced integrated air defense systems [IADS] that include radar-guided surface-to-air missiles [SAMs] and interceptor aircraft.
The F-35, with its ability to perform both electronic attack and precise weapon strikes, would be tasked with neutralizing these threats. Using a combination of advanced jamming systems and precision-guided munitions, the F-35s could target critical enemy radars and SAM sites, opening the door for follow-up strikes by other aircraft or ground forces.
Additionally, F-35s would be used to assert air superiority in contested zones. The aircraft’s advanced avionics, such as its AN/APG-81 AESA radar, would allow it to detect, track, and engage enemy aircraft at extended ranges while maintaining an advantage in beyond-visual-range [BVR] combat.
In a confrontation with Russian or Chinese fighter aircraft, the F-35s would leverage their stealth and sensor fusion to maintain situational awareness and neutralize adversary fighters with minimal exposure. This would be particularly important in areas like the Sea of Japan, where Russian and Chinese air forces maintain a significant presence.
In more intense combat scenarios, F-35s from Misawa would also play a key role in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance [ISR] missions. Equipped with cutting-edge sensors and the ability to share real-time data with other U.S. and allied forces, the F-35 would be integral in gathering battlefield intelligence, tracking enemy movements, and providing targeting information for both air and ground operations.
The stealth capabilities of the F-35 would allow it to operate undetected in sensitive areas, conducting deep reconnaissance over enemy territory or contested maritime zones.
The F-35A’s versatility also extends to precision strike capabilities. In a scenario involving China’s massive A2/AD [anti-access/area-denial] network, the F-35s could strike at key infrastructure such as military bases, air defense systems, or logistical hubs with pinpoint accuracy.
Its ability to carry a range of weapons, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions [JDAMs] and precision-guided bombs, would allow it to effectively target hard-to-reach assets, even in areas where enemy air defenses are at their strongest.
As part of a broader joint force, F-35s from Misawa would support a range of missions, including anti-ship operations in the Pacific. With China’s growing naval presence and Russia’s expansion in the Arctic, U.S. Navy and Air Force assets would need to work in concert to counter potential threats to global shipping lanes and strategic maritime chokepoints.
The F-35’s ability to perform both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions would make it a valuable asset in protecting U.S. and allied maritime interests.
Finally, in the event of a conflict with either Russia or China, the F-35s would provide a significant deterrent against adversary aggression. By positioning these advanced, stealthy aircraft in such a strategically sensitive location, the U.S. would be signaling its readiness to respond to threats in the region and its commitment to defending its allies.
The presence of F-35s at Misawa would serve as a potent reminder to both Russia and China that any escalation would be met with overwhelming, technologically superior force, ensuring that U.S. forces maintain the initiative in the Indo-Pacific theater.
In summary, F-35s deployed from Misawa would serve as a force multiplier in any conflict scenario, offering unmatched capabilities in stealth, precision strike, air superiority, and intelligence gathering.
Whether engaging in high-risk strikes, suppressing enemy air defenses, or ensuring regional dominance, the F-35s stationed at Misawa would be integral to the U.S. military’s ability to project power and respond to any potential escalation in the region.