# F-35B
Latest news and articles about F-35B
Total: 5 articles found
Japan’s F-35Bs in Kyushu Raise the Stakes in a Quiet Air-Sea Contest with China
Japan has forward-deployed F-35B stealth jets to a base on Kyushu and declared a high training tempo, partly to offset surveillance risks at a planned island facility. The move tightens Japan’s ability to contest Chinese carrier movements but highlights a larger systems race: China’s expanding carrier fleet, land-based stealth fighters and tanker support will increasingly shape operational outcomes in the East and South China Seas.
UK Sends F-35Bs to Cyprus as Iran Bolsters Radar Defences — A New Calculus for Stealth and Strike in the Gulf
Britain has deployed F-35B jets to Cyprus and Typhoons to Qatar as part of a widening coalition posture near Iran, while Tehran has reportedly fielded Chinese YLC‑8B radars that could extend detection ranges for stealth aircraft. The technical and political dynamics are increasing the complexity and risks of any air campaign, forcing greater reliance on electronic warfare, standoff weapons and crisis diplomacy.
Why the U.S. Is Dressing Its ‘Aggressors’ as Chinese Fifth‑Gen Fighters
U.S. and U.K. forces used F‑35Bs to simulate Chinese fifth‑generation fighters during a Red Flag exercise at Nellis, part of a broader effort by the reactivated 65th “Invaders” squadron to model J‑20/J‑35 tactics. The practice underscores Washington’s shift to China‑focused high‑end training while highlighting the limits of surrogate aircraft in fully reproducing adversary capabilities.
Britain Sends Six F-35Bs to Cyprus as Middle East Talks Temper—but Tensions Linger
The UK has deployed six F-35B fighters to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to bolster the defence of its sovereign base areas amid heightened US‑Iran tensions. The move coincided with Oman‑mediated talks between Washington and Tehran and a simultaneous White House announcement of tariffs targeting countries that trade with Iran, leaving the region in a delicate balance between diplomacy and deterrence.
Satellite Images Show Japan’s Izumo-Class Ships Becoming Carrier-Capable — A Regional Turning Point
Satellite imagery through November 2025 shows visible progress in Japan’s retrofit of its Izumo-class ships to operate F-35B fighters, with bow reshaping and hangar upgrades under way. Tokyo plans to complete the conversions by fiscal years 2027–2028, a move that enhances U.S.-Japan interoperability but has drawn strong objections from Beijing, which frames the changes as a dangerous turn toward re-militarisation.