Japan's first aircraft carrier since WWII makes landmark F‑35B landing
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. This is a capability that Japan had not possessed for decades.
3:36 PM EDT, October 21, 2024
As Łukasz Michalik, a journalist, explained, the modernization of the JS Kaga means that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has its first aircraft carrier since World War II. The first landing of a combat aircraft on its deck occurred on October 20 near San Diego during tests focused on integration and cooperation between the F-35B and the ship's onboard systems.
The first Japanese aircraft carrier since World War II
Representatives of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force reported that the F-35 B's initial contact with the deck of the aircraft carrier JS Kaga was successful. Additional trials are scheduled for the following days, and they will involve American F-35Bs and specialists from the US Navy.
The tests involving the F-35B are significant, as Japan reached a preliminary agreement with the USA in 2020 for the purchase of these aircraft. The F-35B is a STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) aircraft, measuring over 49 feet in length and 33 feet in wingspan. It can achieve speeds of up to 1.6 Mach and carry nearly 15,000 pounds of armaments.
Japanese Izumo-class ships
The Kaga is a converted Izumo-class helicopter destroyer. The main goal of the designers was to create conditions suitable for operating an aviation group based primarily on F-35B aircraft. The ship measures 814 feet in length and has a displacement of 30,300 tons.
Ultimately, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to have two Izumo-class ships (the lead JS Kaga and JS Izumo), with operational readiness projected for 2027.
