In an effort to strengthen China’s “restraint”, the Japanese government plans to deploy the most advanced stealth fighter F-35B to the Air Self-Defense Force Shintamara base in Shintomocho, Miyazaki Prefecture, in order to strengthen the “restraint control” of Japan.
“There is no doubt that this is a strong candidate place for the government’s plan to equip the latest stealth fighter F-35B at the Shindahara base at a press conference on the 6th.”
Nobuo Kishi did not specify the deployment time, but the report pointed out that the Japanese government aims to start operation in 2024 and will promote coordination with local governments in the future.
According to Yomiuri Shimbun, this is the first time that Japan has deployed F-35B fighters to the self-defense force base. It is expected that the fighter will be integrated with the aircraft carrier-oriented amphibious attack ship Kaga in the Sea of Japan to strengthen the suppression of China.
Shindahara Base
According to Yomiuri Shimbun, the F-35B is characterized by a short taxi takeoff or a vertical landing. Even on outlying islands without a base, the F-35B can use civil airfields for flexible deployment. If the F-35B is deployed at the Shindahara base, the F-35B can train take-off and landing on Mamao Island south of the base and facilitate the rush to the eastern sea near Okinawa in case of emergency.
According to relevant sources in the Ministry of Defense, the Japanese government positioned the F-35B as the “trump card of outlying island defense” amid China’s increasing armaments.
The Nidahara base is located in Shinfu, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan. It is the largest Japan Air Self-Defense Force base on Kyushu Island. It is currently the base of the 5th Air Regiment and Flight Education Air Force, mainly equipped with F-15J/DJ fighters.
In addition, Shindahara Base is also close to Kaizuwu Base and Iwakuni Base of the U.S. Marine Corps, which is judged by the Japanese government as the most suitable deployment site for the F-35B. Japanese media proposed that its specific use methods include: the F-35B of Shindahara Base can be trained with the “Kaga” “Defense Aircraft Carrier” with the Hai Ziwu Base as its home port; it can conduct joint exercises with the F-35B of the U.S. Iwakuni Base; and it can also take off and land at the self-Defense Force base to be built on Mamao Island. Training, etc.
