MISAWA- The 35th Fighter Wing held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Misawa Air Base (MSJ) on April 24, 2026, officially marking the induction of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters into the Fifth Air Force fleet.
The event represents the first phase of the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) transition to permanently assigned fifth-generation fighter squadrons in the Indo-Pacific region.
Misawa Air Base (MSJ) now stands as the first Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) installation in the Western Pacific to receive the F-35A.
The 35th Operations Group first welcomed the aircraft on March 28, 2026, beginning a strategic conversion that will see the 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons replace their legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet with fifth-generation platforms.
F-35A Induction Strengthens U.S.-Japan Defense Posture
The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew senior military leaders, diplomats, and Japanese defense officials, underscoring the strategic weight of the transition.
U.S. Air Force Col. Paul Davidson, 35 FW commander, emphasized that the new platform reinforces the long-standing partnership between the United States and Japan.
Davidson noted that Misawa’s strength has always been rooted in the bonds between the two nations. He stated that despite the advanced platforms, the core mission remains unchanged: strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, protecting the force, and safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific. The conversion is the result of a force posture adjustment that has been ten years in development.
The F-35A is a multirole stealth fighter equipped with cutting-edge sensors and advanced situational awareness capabilities, designed to operate effectively in the first island chain battlespace.
Its sensor fusion, stealth profile, and network-centric design deliver significant advantages in lethality and survivability.
Misawa Becomes Only Dual F-35A Operating Location Worldwide
Political Minister-Counselor Christopher Allison highlighted a unique distinction for the base. Misawa is now the only location in the world where U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35As operate side by side.
Allison noted that Japan has committed to purchasing 147 F-35 aircraft, reaffirming the 74-year bilateral alliance.
Allison described the fifth-generation aircraft as combining stealth technology, advanced sensors, and seamless integration with allied forces, providing capabilities that previous generations could never match.
Fifth Air Force Commander Calls F-35 Arrival an Exponential Leap
Lt. Gen. Joel Carey, 5th Air Force commander, assessed the F-35A arrival as an exponential leap in warfighting capability. He stated that pilots and allies flying the same platform, training on the same systems, and developing tactics together create a seamless and formidable defensive shield.
Carey further emphasized the operational significance of JASDF operating the F-35 alongside U.S. forces.
He explained that this transforms interoperability from a concept into a daily reality, enabling deeper integration across sortie production, sustainment, mission planning, data sharing, and combined execution.
The 5th Air Force is the USAF’s longest-serving numbered air force, established in the Western Pacific in September 1941.
Over its 85-year history, 5 AF airmen have operated more than 30 fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft types, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, P-38 Lightning, F-86 Sabre, F-4 Phantom II, and the F-15 Eagle.
Senior Japanese Officials Join Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by the Honorable Makoto Sasaki, Misawa City vice mayor, Lt. Gen. Hidetada Inatsuki, JASDF Air Defense Command commander, Lt. Gen. Keita Funakura, JASDF Northern Air Defense Force commander, and General Gary North, USAF (Retired), Lockheed Martin vice president and former Pacific Air Forces commander.
The presence of fifth-generation aircraft at Misawa confirms the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan.
The transition is part of a broader modernization effort first publicly announced by the DAF in July 2024, aimed at deterring adversary aggression and strengthening joint and multinational forces across the Indo-Pacific.
Davidson closed the ceremony by invoking the Wild Weasel legacy of the 35th Fighter Wing, stating that the F-35A represents the future of airpower and the strength of the alliance. He affirmed the wing’s standard: “First in, last out.”
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