The deployment is part of a rotating force of advanced fighters sent to replace two retiring squadrons of F-15 Eagles at Kadena, an important fighter base with proximity to Taiwan. The Okinawa Times newspaper reported that 12 Lightning IIs landed at the base, but the 18th Wing declined to confirm the exact number.
The Lightning IIs of the 355th Fighter Squadron arrived on their first deployment since the squadron became fully capable in February. They will operate from Kadena and hone their skills and processes to execute efficiently and effectively in a sustained deployment environment while working alongside the joint force and allies. The squadron plans to rotate personnel and equipment to multiple operating locations, and the F-35s’ arrival may mean other aircraft return to their home stations.
The phased withdrawal of 48 Eagle fighters will take place over two years, according to the Air Force. The Air Force announced plans to replace the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons with rotating units of more advanced, fifth-generation F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. The first contingent of about a dozen Raptors, from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, arrived at Kadena in early November, followed by a dozen F-16CM Fighting Falcons from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in January.
The 18th Wing spokesman 1st Lt. Robert Dabbs said that while the deployment is temporary, newer and more advanced aircraft will be deployed to backfill the F-15s as they return to the United States, ensuring continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region. A decision on permanent replacements for the F-15s is still in the air, but all of the proposals under consideration include advanced capabilities that are superior to the F-15 C/D Eagles. The Air Force plans to provide backfill solutions that maintain regional deterrence and bolster the United States' ability to uphold treaty obligations to Japan.
The F-35A Lightning II is the conventional takeoff-and-landing version of the fifth-generation fighter, made by Lockheed Martin. The multirole fighter combines stealth, sensor fusion, and unprecedented situational awareness. However, the most advanced fighter in the United States’ arsenal has come under scrutiny in recent years due to the program’s ballooning budget and reports of underperformance.
Source: Stars and Stripes