F-35A expands Japan’s role in Wild Weasel SEAD—first Japanese-built F-35A joins Misawa mission as wing proves F-35A reach in NAT
The U.S. Air Force is transferring the historic Wild Weasel air-defense suppression mission to F-35A fighters based at Misawa, replacing F-16s in locating and destroying radar-guided surface-to-air missile systems. Japan also produced its first F-35A and is using the type to demonstrate NATO integration and combat-airpower generation during Exercise Ramstein Flag 26.