Japan will have a total of 7 F-35As in the country by this month

Japan is taking delivery of its second F-35A at Misawa air base today and Defense Minister Yoshinobu Onodera says five more are expected to arrive on May 26, bringing the total to 7.

The first operational Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A taxis during an arrival ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2018. The aircraft is a high-performance, multirole aircraft with advanced electronics designed to heighten situational awareness and distribute more information to pilots than any other fighter aircraft, giving operators a critical advantage over adversaries. Japan is one of 12 countries to purchase the F-35A in efforts to maximize air superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Deana Heitzman)