U.S. Marine Corps deploys VMFA-533 F-35B squadron to Japan to reinforce forward aviation readiness across Indo-Pacific region

The U.S. Marine Corps deployed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, on September 5 under the Unit Deployment Program. The F-35B-equipped Hawks will join Marine Aircraft Group 12 in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and replace VMFA-232 in the rotational role, sustaining a continuous forward fifth-generation aviation presence. The recurring deployment gives U.S.-based units operational experience in the Indo-Pacific while supporting regional readiness, stability, and the U.S.-Japan security treaty; it is a rotation rather than a permanent rebasing decision.