Dogfighting Skills

F-35s Are Now Practicing Their Dogfighting Skills Over Okinawa

Fighters from Utah’s Hill Air Force Base are gaining valuable skills not far from potential war zones.

By Kyle Mizokami

 U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN OMARI BERNARD

The U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Joint Strike Fighters are practicing air-to-air combat in the skies over Okinawa, Japan. The new multi-role fighter jets are facing off against American and Japanese F-15 Eagle fighters and also against each other, allowing both jets to practice fighting stealthy adversaries while F-35 pilots gain valuable experience.


In October 2017, the 34th Fighter Squadron deployed to Okinawa, Japan with twelve F-35A fighters and 300 personnel. The 34th, also known as the “Rude Rams,” was the first Air Force F-35A squadron to achieve initial operating capability back in August 2016, and it deployed to Kadena Air Base less than a year later.

Located just 880 miles from Pyongyang, North Korea and 507 miles from Shanghai, China, Kadena is one of the U.S. military’s most important forward deployed bases. In addition to KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, E-3 AWACS airborne early warning and control planes, MC-130 special operations transports, and even WC-135 “Constant Phoenix” radiation-sniffing aircraft, Kadena is home to two squadrons of F-15C Eagle fighters.

According to Defense News, the F-35s of the 34th are practicing air-to-air combat skills against the resident Eagles of the 44th and 67th fighter squadrons. The F-35s also practice against Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15s based on Okinawa. The JASDF has 42 F-35As on order and is contemplating an additional order of vertical takeoff and landing F-35Bs.


F-35As of the 34th Fighter Squadron under concrete shelters at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN QUAY DRAWDY

Although an anonymous 2015 report panned the F-35 for mediocre air-to-air combat abilities, the jet has performed well in the annual Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base Nevada, racking up an impressive 20-to-1 kill ratio. Some critics believe the F-35 is less maneuverable than its predecessor, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. That might be true, but the F-35 fights in a fundamentally different way, using its stealth and networking abilities to ambush enemy aircraft before they get close enough engage the American plane in a dogfight.

A Kadena-based F-15 pilot interviewed by Defense News characterized the F-35 as “extremely capable” and admitted to have “sometimes” shot down the newer jet in simulated air-to-air combat, but explained that all fighters lose once in a while—some less than others.