TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — On June 29, U.S. Marines in Okinawa received 12 new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) to bolster and modernize U.S. force capabilities.

U.S. military forces in Japan are set to receive a great deal of new equipment and resources in the near future as Washington heightens efforts to boost deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.  Following the delivery of the new ACVs, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Wednesday (July 3) that tactical fighter jets across multiple bases in Japan will be replaced with newer models over the next several years, according to a press release.

The new ACVs, manufactured by BAE systems, will replace the previous generation of amphibious assault vehicles employed by the USMC’s Third Expeditionary Force. They will help the force hone their tactics for a potential island-hopping conflict involving China, reported The War Zone.

“Upgrading our fleet with amphibious combat vehicles capable of supporting sea denial and maritime operations will further bolster our ability to support deterrence efforts and respond to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific,” said Lieutenant General Roger Turner, as quoted in a press release. 

As for upgrades to the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of tactical fighter jets, troops stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa are set to receive 36 F-15EX fighters to replace 48 F-16 C/D fighters over the coming years. Additionally, troops at Misawa Air Force Base in northern Japan will receive 48 F-35A aircraft as an upgrade over the current 36 F-16 aircraft.

Other aircraft and upgrades are also planned for other bases in Japan, with the total Air Force upgrade package representing a total investment of around US$10 billion dollars, per the press release.

The Department of Defense said that deploying America’s most advanced fighter aircraft to the region “demonstrates the ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries' shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”