Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) for the first time released photos stealth fighter jet F-35 of them.
Pictures released by JASDF on August 14 at the production facilities Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft will soon conduct a test flight.
As reported by IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly Monday, August 15, 2016, the aircraft 69-8701 (also designated AX-1) in the country was completed ahead of a test flight and delivery to the fleet of international training at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, in a few weeks come. Four aircraft for JASDF is currently being built in Fort Worth.
Japan has committed to purchase 28 F-35A for the next five years (six aircraft are under contract), and has a total of 42 needs to replace the Mitsubishi-McDonnell Douglas F-4J KAI (Phantom II), which has been in service since the early 1970s an.
On June 25, 2014, Japan’s defense minister Itsunori Onodera announced that the F-35 will initially be based at Misawa, which is expected to receive the first four of the approximately 20 aircraft during fiscal year 2017. The initial operational unit is expected to be achieved by Squadron 301 or 302.
