The United States Forces Japan (USFJ), one of the subordinate commands under the US Indo-Pacific Command, has announced that the Navy’s CMV-22B OSPREY military transport aircraft and the F-35C stealth fighters will permanently be deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan. This deployment will mark the first time that the US Navy OSPREY will operate from bases in the Japanese archipelago and will replace the aged C-2A GREYHOUND transport aircraft currently stationed at Iwakuni. The F-35C LIGHTNING II jets, from the VFA-147Squadron, will instead replace the F/A-18 HORNET of VFA-115 one. The deployed “capability basket” will also include the Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF).

Previously, in Japan, the U.S. military has deployed Marine Corps OSPREY at the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, and Air Force ones at the Yokota Base in Tokyo. It is worth noting that the OSPREY are, unfortunately, still experiencing fatal crashes across the globe, such as the one that occurred last November off the Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, in Japan. The Asiatic country is one of the customers of Boeing-Bell’s aircraft, having 14 OSPREY in service for the JGSDF, with another 3 coming soon. Tokyo’s military authorities resumed OSPREY flights in March this year amid opposition from concerned local communities in the country, as confirmed by Hisashi Matsumoto, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense, during his last visit to the Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The Navy’s V-22 variant (CMV-22B) is the next generation of Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD). It brings greater operational range, faster cargo loading and unloading, aerial refueling capability, improved survivability, and enhanced communications beyond line-of-sight compared to the old C-2A GREYHOUND. It is a critical enabler for ensuring sustained deployed mobility for all the carrier strike groups stationing and transiting in the crucial Indo-Pacific theater.

With this move, the US forces emphasized the requirement to have their most capable aircraft and ships deployed “forward”, able to respond to a security environment that demands an immediate presence to support the maritime campaign in competition, as it would occur in a potential conflict.

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