Asahi and Yomiuri reported online that an F-35A was deployed to an ASDF base in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, on Friday, noting that nine additional F-35As will be deployed there during FY2018. Defense Minister Onodera told the press that the deployment of the state-of-the-art fighter jets is extremely significant for national defense at a time when Japan’s neighbors are rapidly modernizing their air capabilities. The Defense Ministry plans to procure a total of 42 F-35As to replace the aging F-4s.