Australia and Japan will trade F-35 Joint Strike Fighter deployments later this year as part of a new Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement.

Australian F-35s will be deployed to Japan for the first time in early September during Exercise Bushido Guardian, while Japanese F-35s will deploy to RAAF Base Tindal in Australia for the first time at the end of August.

The military agreement strengthens defence ties and provides the legal framework for greater defence cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces.

“The Reciprocal Access Agreement will deepen the relationship between our respective defence forces, supporting closer cooperation and strengthening the capabilities of both the ADF and the JSDF,” according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

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