Japanese F-35As at Luke

Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35As 79-8703 (c/n AX-03, FMS 14-5116) and 79-8704 (c/n AX-04, FMS 14-5117) on approach to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, during a joint mission on February 24. Four Japanese F-35As were built by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, and have all been delivered to Luke, with AX-03 joining the 944th Fighter Wing in late January and AX-04 in mid-February. Aircraft AX-04 is the last Lightning II built in low-rate initial production Lot 8. The remaining 38 Japanese F-35As (c/n AX-05 to AX-42) will be assembled at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Final Assembly and Check-Out facility in Nagoya, Japan. Kees van der Mark