This article is based on an official press release from the U.S. Department of Defense and additional background data regarding regional operations.

U.S. Air Forces Deploys F-35As to Kadena Air Base Amidst Regional Tensions

The U.S. Air Force has officially confirmed the deployment of F-35A Lightning II military-aircraft assigned to the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) to Kadena Air Base in Japan. According to a release from the Department of Defense on January 7, 2026, the deployment is part of a scheduled rotation designed to maintain a continuous fighter presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Operating out of the “Keystone of the Pacific,” the 356th EFS, normally based at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, is tasked with delivering combat airpower and ensuring regional stability. This rotation comes as the Air Force continues to divest its aging fleet of F-15C/D Eagles permanently stationed at Kadena, bridging the capability gap with fifth-generation assets until the permanent arrival of the F-15EX Eagle II.

Operational Integration and Readiness

The 356th EFS has been conducting active operations throughout December 2025 and into January 2026. According to operational data released by the military, the unit executed aerial refueling operations over the Pacific on December 11 and launched combat readiness sorties on December 19. These missions are designed to refine the unit’s ability to generate airpower from forward-deployed locations.

A key component of this deployment is integration with joint and allied forces. The Department of Defense notes that the F-35As are operating alongside U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs based at Iwakuni, as well as U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. Furthermore, the unit is conducting bilateral Training with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to enhance interoperability.

In a statement regarding the squadron’s objectives, Maj. John Toner, the 356th EFS Director of Operations, emphasized the unit’s readiness:

“Our mission is to ensure air dominance whenever and wherever we’re called. Every training event and every sortie strengthens our ability to deliver combat airpower and ensure stability across the Pacific.”

Strategic Context: Response to “Justice Mission 2025”

While the Department of Defense characterizes the deployment as a standard rotation, the timing coincides with heightened geopolitical friction in the theater. Reports from regional defense outlets indicate that in late December 2025, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intensified military maneuvers around Taiwan under the banner of “Justice Mission 2025.”

These exercises reportedly involved joint air and naval drills, live-fire exercises, and simulated blockades. The presence of the 356th EFS at Kadena serves as a high-visibility counter-signal, leveraging the F-35A’s stealth and sensor fusion capabilities to deter potential aggression. Unlike the fourth-generation F-15s they are replacing, the F-35As possess low-observable technology allowing them to penetrate contested airspace, a critical requirement in modern high-end conflict scenarios.

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The deployment of the 356th EFS highlights the U.S. Air Force’s pivot toward Agile Combat Employment (ACE). By rotating diverse units like the 356th through strategic hubs like Kadena, the service avoids the predictability of static basing while introducing the most advanced airframes to the theater. While the divestment of the permanent F-15 fleet raised concerns about capacity, the rotational presence of fifth-generation fighters offers a qualitative advantage that older airframes could not provide. This Strategy ensures that despite the “capability gap” awaiting the F-15EX, the actual combat power available in the Indo-Pacific remains potent and survivable.

Pilot Perspectives on Allied Deterrence

The human element of these operations focuses heavily on trust-building with regional partners. Capt. Ryan Beveridge, a pilot with the 356th EFS, noted the value of cross-service and cross-national integration during these sorties.

“Integrating with our allied partners out here has been invaluable. That kind of trust and understanding is what makes deterrence real.”

The squadron is expected to continue its rotation through early 2026, maintaining a high operational tempo to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command objectives.

Sources

• Defense.gov
• DVIDS
• Air & Space Forces Magazine