The transition to a new era of Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets is under way, as next-generation F-35A fighters deploy to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Precture.
The first of 42 of the fighters -- which have cutting-edge stealth abilities designed to evade radar -- arrived at the Misawa base on Jan. 26. They are slated to become a pillar of Japan's aerial defense. The ASDF is considering arming the aircraft with long-range cruise missiles that can strike enemy units on remote islands in Japanese territory, a proposal likely stemming from concerns over China's maritime advances.
Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera stressed the fighters' importance at a ceremony marking their deployment at the base on Saturday. "Japan has deployed a new type of fighter jet for the first time in 18 years, [the last being F-2 fighters]," he noted.
The F-35A, which was jointly developed by the United States, Britain and seven other countries, is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
Its introduction in place of aging third-generation F-4 fighters will hasten the modernization of the ASDF fleet.
The modified-version F-15, regarded as a generation 4.5 fighter, was previously considered the ASDF's most advanced aircraft.
The Chinese Air Force -- which has stepped up operations in areas around Japan -- has also introduced state-of-the-art fighter jets. Earlier this month, it announced the operational deployment of fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters produced in China.
A senior Defense Ministry official spoke with a heightened sense of urgency, saying, "There are concerns that China could gain the upper hand in airspace around Japan in the future."
The government places importance on upgrading its aerial capabilities in its defense buildup program. It plans to commission more F-35As in its next Medium Term Defense Program for fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023, which will be drafted at the end of this year.
The government has requested funds in the fiscal 2018 budget to procure anti-ship and anti-surface long-range cruise missiles -- known as joint strike missiles (JSMs) -- that have ranges of about 500 kilometers.
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