U.S. Navy's New AIM-174B Air-to-Air Missile Spotted in Japan

U.S. Navy's New AIM-174B Air-to-Air Missile Spotted in Japan

On May 4, 2025, during the Friendship Day event held at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, the U.S. Navy publicly unveiled the AIM-174B (air-launched variant of the SM-6) for the first time, mounted under the wing of an F/A-18F. Originally established as a base for U.S. Marine Corps tactical aircraft squadrons rotating from the United States to Japan, MCAS Iwakuni became a major hub for U.S. Navy carrier-based aviation following the…

U.S. Bolsters Indo-Pacific Presence by Deploying F-35B Fighter Squadron VMFA-211 to Japan in Response to Escalating Chinese Military Threats

United States Marine Corps has deployed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211), known as the “Wake Island Avengers,” to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, signaling a strategic shift in U.S. military posture across the Indo-Pacific. As part of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program (UDP), the squadron’s arrival reflects mounting regional tensions and Washington’s intent to reinforce deterrence and joint operational readine…