The U.S. Air Force will conduct a “show of force” demonstration against North Korea in the coming weeks using its Japan-stationed F-35A wing now that the service has a dozen planes there.
The F-35A’s are in Japan on a six-month rotational basis.
Service officials describe the move as a routine deployment called a Theater Security Package, but given the ramped-up tensions with North Korea, it’s clear that the show of force is meant to influence Pyongyang.
“Pacific Air Forces is now finalizing plans for a wide range of F-35A multi-national collaborative training events which will, without question, seek to demonstrate possible coordinated attack options using the stealth aircraft, if ordered, over the Korean peninsula.
“The 12 F-35s, now based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, arrived from Utah’s 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, officials with Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.”
Marine Corps F-35Bs have been in Japan for months but the show of force demonstration is U.S. Pacific Command’s first operational tasking for Air Force F-35s. [source]
Information in this article helps satisfy Priority Intelligence Requirement 2: What is the current situation report and risk of war in each of the four flashpoints?
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