In a technical advance off San Diego, a Navy F-35B strike fighter landed on a Japanese aircraft carrier for the first time over the weekend, proving that the two allies can jointly use one of the world’s most sophisticated jets.

Due to the ongoing dispute over the Kuril Islands, Japan has been in a formal state of tension with Russia for years. The Kaijō Jieitai, or the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, recently showcased the first landing of an F-35B on the deck of the JS Kaga during sea trials near San Diego.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) reached a milestone in its aircraft carrier capabilities as a U.S. Navy F-35B Lightning II conducted its first landing on the JS Kaga (DDH-184). -The Kaga,