The United States Navy has announced the deployment of F-35C Lightning II fighters and CMV-22B Osprey aircraft to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni in Japan. This decision, detailed in a press release on July 15, aims to replace the aging squadrons of F/A-18 Super Hornets and C-2A Greyhound transports currently stationed at the base.
The service said that Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, Detachment Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF), will be forward deployed to Iwakuni. The squadrons are set to merge with the aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, based at MCAS Iwakuni.
The F-35C Lightning II jets of VFA 147 will take over from the F/A-18 Hornets of VFA 115, while the CMV-22B Ospreys of VRM 30, Det FDNF, will replace the C-2A Greyhound aircraft previously supporting CVW 5 and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5.
Strike Fighter Squadron 115 and its F/A-18s were assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in November 2017. The station presently hosts two Marine Corps squadrons equipped with F-35Bs, short-takeoff, and vertical-landing stealth fighters, alongside two Navy squadrons of Super Hornets integrated with the carrier wing.
This upgrade highlights the Navy’s commitment to maintaining superior air capabilities in the region. This development follows the Department of Defense’s recent announcement to enhance its aerial capabilities at other bases in Japan.
Over the next few years, 36 modern F-15EX aircraft are slated to permanently replace 48 older F-15C/D fighter jets at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. Additionally, Misawa Air Base in northern Japan is also set to receive 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft to replace its 36 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets.
As the Chinese military expands its presence in the region, the importance of aerial power in addressing these challenges has led to the implementation of these upgrades.
