The Air Force just permanently stationed its most advanced fighter in northern Japan, closer to China than ever before. There’s one problem — Taiwan is 1,200 miles away, and the F-35 can only fly 670 without refueling. The F-35 will cost around $2 trillion in total over the course of its time in the Air Force, but its range will never be a strong point.
The F-35 Fighter Has a Range Issue. China Knows All About
In late March 2026, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft had arrived at Misawa Air Base, expanding the fifth-generation footprint in northern Japan. The deployment appeared to be a fairly simple reinforcement of regional combat capability, with Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) stating that the aircraft would enhance deterrence and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron is parked on the flightline during exercise Noble Panther 26-4 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, March 9, 2026. Airmen participated in night sorties, requiring them to perform their tasks in low-light conditions while staying watch for potential simulated attacks. These high-intensity, realistic scenarios were designed to build the confidence and muscle memory required for combat operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zeeshan Naeem)
“F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron arrived at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2026, marking the beginning of the squadron’s transition to fifth-generation airpower and the permanent stationing of the Joint Force’s most advanced tactical aircraft in Northern Japan,” an official statement explained.
Misawa already hosts U.S. and Japanese forces and sits within reach of key operating areas across the Western Pacific. Positioning F-35s there reduces the distance required to reach potential contingencies in the East China Sea or beyond. Distance in this part of the world is one of the most persistent operational constraints, with the Indo-Pacific defined by long transit routes and limited basing options, both of which heighten the missile threat.
The recently-released Fiscal Year 2027 budget request from the Pentagon also continues to fund continued F-35 procurement while investing in tanker aircraft, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), and early procurement for next-generation systems designed to operate over longer distances.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie “Mach” Kluesner, pilot for the F-35A Demonstration Team, preforms high-speed aerial maneuvers during a practice demonstration at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Jan. 6, 2026. The team practices during their off-season to ensure that they are always sharp and ready to demonstrate the capabilities of the F-35A and the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rupiper)
The Air Force also revisited external fuel tank concepts for the F-35, a capability that was originally dismissed in favor of preserving the aircraft’s low observable profile.
It’s clear that the Air Force and the Pentagon recognize that distance across the Pacific is an obstacle that must be overcome.
That problem shapes where aircraft need to be based and how missions are designed, and with continued advances in Chinese aerospace capabilities, it’s now a focus for current and future U.S. planning.
What the F-35’s Range Means for the U.S.
The F-35A’s commonly cited combat radius is approximately 590 to 670 nautical miles when operating on internal fuel in a standard configuration. Those figures take into account factors like combat maneuvering and don’t simply refer to a straight-line distance.
In practice, an aircraft’s range is shaped by a number of factors, and it may need to adjust its routing to avoid threats or operate at altitudes and speeds that increase fuel burn. Aircraft may also need to remain on station longer than planned, introducing variables that reduce the effectiveness of each sortie.
A new F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft flies over the Alaska Canada Highway en route to its new home at the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 21, 2020. The F-35 represents a new model of international cooperation, ensuring U.S. and Coalition partner security well into the 21st Century. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Keele)
In the Indo-Pacific, many variables amplify those constraints. Distances between operating bases and potential target areas are significantly larger than in Europe or the Middle East.
For example, the distance from northern Japan to the Taiwan Strait is roughly 1,200 miles, depending on the route, which pushes tactical aircraft toward the limits of their unfueled operating abilities. And yet, this is a theater in which the United States expects future conflict – and its military hardware needs to keep up.
During a conversation with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in April 2023, General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, who then served as the Commander of Pacific Air Forces, described pre-positioning of American assets in the region as a solution to the problem.
“One other aspect of the logistics that sometimes people don’t think about is this notion of pre-positioning, and in the 22 budget, the 23 budget, we expect 24 and beyond to have several hundreds of millions, maybe even more of money to purchase items that we are pre-positioning,” Wilsbach said. “We’ve already started this purchase and are deploying some of this equipment, but it relieves you of some of the risk of logistics under attack if you have stuff at the islands you intend to fly from already. Things like food and water, and fuel and weapons, and things like that will already be there.”
U.S Air Force Captain Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team Commander, flies during a demonstration at the Oregon International Airshow in McMinnville, Ore., Aug. 20, 2022. The F-35 Demo team travels around the United States and around the world, showcasing the world’s most technologically advanced fifth-generation fighter jet. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. John Winn)
An Edwards AFB F-35A Lightning II fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile as part of Weapons Delivery Accuracy testing. The 461st Flight Test Squadron and F-35 Integrated Test Force completed WDA testing in early December, which concludes a large and important part of F-35 developmental test and evaluation. (Courtesy photo by Chad Bellay/Lockheed Martin)
The problem is very real, and while the F-35 can certainly perform long-range missions, they are planned with additional layers of support and coordination to ensure success.
Forward Basing Reduces Distance But Changes the Risk
The deployment of F-35s to Misawa is part of an effort to position forces closer to areas where they are likely to operate, thereby reducing transit distance. Forward basing like this allows aircraft to reach targets with less fuel and reduces reliance on target support.
It also increases the number of sorties that can be generated over a given period. This strategy isn’t restricted to Japan, of course; the Air Force has been developing the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept for some time, which involves dispersing aircraft across multiple locations rather than concentrating them at a few large bases.
In 2022, the Air Force announced plans to disperse its aircraft across more bases, with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. describing efforts as “fundamentally changing the way we generate airpower.” He added that the concept will “complicate adversary planning and provide more options for our joint force and coalition commanders.”
F-35 Fighter. Image Credit: Industry Handout.
ACE is intended to address both distance and survivability constraints, but forward basing still presents its own constraints. Many of the locations that reduce distance to target are also within range of Chinese ballistic and cruise missile systems. That places air fields, fuel storage, maintenance facilities, and all the assets Wilsbach said are being distributed across the region at risk. Dispersal may mitigate some of that risk, but it also increases logistical complexity.
Tankers Can Extend Reach But Create Dependencies
Aerial refueling is central to the F-35’s extended-range operations. Tanker aircraft, such as the KC-46 and KC-135, enable fighters to fly longer missions, remain on station, and operate from bases that would otherwise be too far from the target area. The continued procurement of KC-46 aircraft reflects the need for them in future planning.
In a Pacific scenario, for example, fighters may rely on multiple refueling events during a single mission. Tankers are positioned at preplanned locations, and mission timing is often tied to those refueling windows. But tankers are large and non-stealthy, making them vulnerable to long-range air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. In a contested environment, they may need to operate further from the fight to reduce risk, which in turn increases the distance the fighter must travel before refueling. See the problem?
The first KC-46A Pegasus lands at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, June 12, 2020. The KC-46A Pegasus is a widebody, multirole tanker that can refuel all U.S., allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob B. Derry)
The Air Force has acknowledged these dynamics in its planning, recognizing that the distances in the Indo-Pacific increase fuel demand and complicate its delivery to forward aircraft. It means that the F-35’s reach in a Pacific operation is closely tied to tanker availability and survivability. So, what’s the solution?
Addressing Range Through Force Structure
The U.S. response has been to build around the problem. As well as expanding the F-35 fleet, the U.S. is investing in systems designed to extend reach, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), which are intended to operate alongside crewed fighters and push sensors and weapons further forward without requiring pilots to fly as far into contested airspace.
At the same time, next-generation platforms like the NGAD fighter are being developed with range and endurance as core requirements, alongside adaptive engines such as the XA100 and XA103 designed to improve fuel efficiency and persistence.
MORE – There Is ‘Chatter’ That F-47 NGAD Fighter Might Have Flown Iran Combat Missions
As mentioned, the Air Force has also revisited the use of external fuel tanks for the F-35s.
The F-35 remains central to U.S. airpower, even if its reach in the Indo-Pacific could be a problem – and it will continue to play an important role as support comes in the form of new technology and basing strategies.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
