F-35 "Wild Weasels" Are Here: From F-16CM to F-35A, US Forces Japan Enters the Stealth Era

The first batch of four F-35A Lightning II fighter jets (three from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and one from RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom) arrived at Misawa Air Base in Japan on March 28, 2026.

These aircraft are intended to modernize the U.S. Air Force 35th Fighter Wing stationed in Japan, which is assigned to the specialized and dangerous "Wild Weasel" mission.

Officially known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), the Wild Weasel mission involves penetrating defended airspace to locate and destroy ground-based radars and missile launchers.

At Misawa Air Base, 36 F-16CM Fighting Falcons—modified for tracking and targeting air defense networks—will be replaced by 48 F-35A Lightning IIs.