The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron deployed outside of the United States now at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni in Japan is preparing to join a series of aerial war games with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

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The stealth jets belong to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), also known as the "Green Knights," departed their former base at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona on Jan. 9 with the first fighters arriving at Iwakuni on Jan. 11. The remaining six stealth jets will be delivered in June by the USS Wasp (LHD-1), a Landing Helicopter Dock amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy.

"The transition of VMFA-121 from MCAS Yuma to MCAS Iwakuni marks a significant milestone in the F-35B program as the Marine Corps continues to lead the way in the advancement of stealth fighter attack aircraft," said the United States Marine Corps in a statement.

VMFA 121 flies the Marine Corps version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the F-35B. This variant is short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) the jet that will replace current inventories of both the F/A-18 Hornet and the AV-8B Harrier II in the fighter and attack roles.

VMFA-121 will be the first F-35 squadron permanently based in Japan. Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, commanding officer of VMFA-121, said Marines with the squadron are both excited and honored to be part of this move.

"The arrival of the F-35B embodies our commitment to the defense of Japan and the regional security of the Pacific," said Maj. Gen. Russell Sanborn, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general.

"We are bringing the most advanced technology to the Pacific to respond to the wide range of missions we take part in and provide greater support to our regional allies."

Iwakuni is home to a Marine F/A-18D Hornet squadron and a squadron of KC-130J Hercules tanker-transport aircraft, along with a number of aircraft from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

In addition, two more Marine Hornet squadrons are normally on temporary rotations to Iwakuni at any one time under the Unit Deployment Program (UDP).

The Green Knights and their F-35Bs will join in regional joint exercises this year throughout the United States Pacific Command's area of responsibility, including the biennial exercise including Forager Fury in Guam and Exercises Ssang Yong and Max Thunder in South Korea. 

TagsF-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), Green Knights, USS Wasp, Japan, Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, Maj. Gen. Russell Sanborn