The first Japanese F-35 arrived at Luke AFB, Ariz., Monday. The aircraft, which was rolled out at a Lockheed Martin ceremony in Forth Worth, Texas, in September, was also the first foreign military sales F-35 to arrive at Luke, according to a release. Japanese Air Self-Defense pilots will train there with the 944th Fighter Wing. Under the program, FMS pilots from Israel and South Korea will also learn fly F-35s alongside pilots from the United States as well as partner nations Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, Netherlands, Denmark, and Canada. Luke will ultimately house six fighter squadrons with a total of 144 F-35s.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
