Japan, U.S. start joint F-35 fighter drills in northeastern Japan

The Air Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps began Wednesday their first joint exercise involving F-35 fighter jets deployed to Japan at an air base in the country's northeastern area.The ASDF's F-35A, the first of its kind deployed to Japan, and around eight F-35Bs from the U.S. Marine Corps' Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, will take part in combat training and bombing exercises through May 24, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.Japan deployed the F-35A stealth fighter at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in January to respond to airspace incursions and enga…READ FULL ARTICLE