A report by Tokyo Shimbun says Japan is considering the purchase of F-35Bs so that it can deploy fighters further south in the Okinawa Prefecture.
By U.S. Navy photo/Released [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Japan Self-Defense Force is barred from deploying military aircraft to Shimochijima airport, which has the longest runway in the Ryukyu Islands. Therefore, defense officials are thinking of using the F-35B at airports with shorter runways.
Also, the deployment of F-35Bs on the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers are bound to draw controversy during current laws. The ships will have to be modified with ski-jumps and upgraded aviation fuel storage facilities. Tokyo might even build a new-class of ship to handle the F-35B, according to the article.
Officials are still mulling whether to convert some F-35As under order to the B-model or buy new jets.