Mitsubishi has completed assembly of the 48th F-35A for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has completed the final assembly of the 48th fifth-generation F-35A fighter jet.
The new aircraft, with tail number “69-8752,” successfully took to the skies for its first test flights.
This marks another step in the country’s large-scale rearmament of its air force with modern defense platforms.
The maiden flight of the newest fighter took place on June 10, 2026, from the company’s factory airfield in Nagoya, known as Komaki Air Base.
This factory site (Komaki South Plant) remains the only location in the country where the final stage of production for this type of aircraft is carried out.
The assembled aircraft was assigned the official serial number AX-52, which clearly indicates its overall sequence number in the series.
The aircraft will now undergo a comprehensive program of mandatory test flights to verify all systems. Once testing is fully complete, the aircraft will be transferred to one of the combat units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Today, F-35A fighters are already in active service with three tactical squadrons—the 301st, 302nd, and 303rd.
The first two squadrons have fully completed their transition to the new-generation aircraft.
The 303rd Squadron, however, continues to operate the new F-35As alongside the time-tested F-15J aircraft.
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