Ｆ３５Ａ配備開始は２６年春　Ｆ１６を更新―米軍三沢基地

　米軍三沢基地（青森県三沢市）に所属する戦闘機Ｆ１６の更新で、最新鋭ステルス戦闘機Ｆ３５Ａの配備が２０２６年春に始まることが１８日、東北防衛局などへの取材で分かった。東北防衛局が今月、米側から提供された情報を青森県や三沢市など関係自治体に伝えた。
　中国の覇権主義的な動きが強まる中、米国防総省はインド太平洋での抑止力を強化するため、約１００億ドル（約１兆５５００億円）を投じ、日本国内に配備する戦闘機を数年かけて更新する計画。三沢基地では、現在３６機のＦ１６を４８機のＦ３５Ａに置き換える方針だ。（2024/11/18-15:38）

The deployment of cutting-edge F-35A stealth fighters at the U.S. military's Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture will start in the spring of 2026, Tohoku Defense Bureau officials and others said Monday.
   Earlier this month, the bureau told related local governments, including the city government of Misawa and the prefectural government of Aomori, that the number of F-16 fighter jets at the base will be gradually reduced from summer 2025 and the first F-35A will be deployed in spring 2026. It also said that a certain number of facilities, including hangars for fighter jets, will need to be renovated or rebuilt at the base in the northeastern Japan prefecture.
   With hegemonic moves by China seen intensifying, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend about 10 billion dollars to upgrade its fighter jets deployed in Japan over several years to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. At the Misawa base, it will replace 36 F-16 fighter jets with 48 F-35A jets.
   The runway at the Misawa base is jointly used by the U.S. military, Japan's Air Self-Defense Force and private airlines. The ASDF has deployed 39 F-35A jets and plans to have a total of 42 such aircraft by the end of fiscal 2024.