US to deploy F-35 squadron to Japan for new carrier George Washington To counter China's growing capabilities

The US Navy has announced the deployment of a squadron of its advanced F-35C Lightning II fighter jets to the new Japan-based aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, to enhance countermeasures against China's growing military capabilities.

The F-35C squadron will join Carrier Air Wing 5 in Iwakuni, Japan, replacing the long-serving F/A-18 Hornets, Caliber.Az reports citing Japanese media.

Carrier Air Wing 5 will transition from the USS Ronald Reagan, which departed Yokosuka in May, to the incoming USS George Washington, set to arrive in Japan later this year.

The F-35C, designed specifically for aircraft carriers, features the widest wingspan among F-35 variants and is equipped with landing gear for carrier deck operations. Its folding wingtips optimize space on the vessel.

Defence analysts highlight that this deployment represents a significant upgrade, reflecting the Navy's need for fifth-generation aircraft to counter Chinese advancements in stealth fighters.

Stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture, the F-35Cs will deploy to sea aboard the USS George Washington during missions.

"The F-35C's superior networks and stealth capabilities cannot be matched by any fourth-generation fighter, such as the F/A-18, regardless of upgrades," said Masashi Murano, a Japan Chair fellow at the Hudson Institute. He emphasized the F-35C's tactical advantages in air-to-air combat and its role in countering anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles from China.

The deployment of the F-35C squadron to Japan signifies the increasing demand for advanced network capabilities, penetration, and lethality from carrier-based aircraft in the Western Pacific region, according to Murano.

Currently, F-35C squadrons are also stationed on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, both San Diego-based carriers tasked with Indo-Pacific defence.

Yokosuka, Japan, the US Navy's largest overseas base, hosts around a dozen warships and will serve as the home port for the USS George Washington, which previously held this role from 2008 to 2015.

The F-35C squadron deployment aligns with similar upgrades by the US Air Force in Japan, including the relocation of 36 F-15EX Eagle II fighters to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa and 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters to Misawa Air Base in Aomori prefecture.