The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) announced on 10 September that it will conduct ship-based developmental trials for the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL)-capable Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter from 5 October to 18 November.
The trials will comprise STOVL launch and recovery of F-35B aircraft as well as shipborne operation aboard JS Kaga – an Izumo-class helicopter carrier that is undergoing conversion to support the aircraft type – in the waters off San Diego. The effort will also be supported by the US military.
The JMSDF earlier released official images of Kaga in an advanced stage of conversion for STOVL aircraft operations in late December 2023, which depicted the vessel on a series of sea trials after a considerable drydock period to perform refit work at Japan Marine United (JMU)’s Kure shipyard in Hiroshima.
Kaga is the second of two Izumo-class helicopter carriers operated by the JMSDF. Lead vessel JS Izumo was commissioned in March 2015 while Kaga entered service two years later. Although conceived as “multipurpose destroyers” that can support seaborne helicopter operations, the Izumo-class was subsequently built with weight and strength provisions for possible fixed-wing aircraft operations.
The recent day and night-time images released by Escort Flotilla 4 highlighted Kaga’s reformed bow section, which has modified from a trapezoidal to a rectangular shape to increase its flight deck space. However, further work is expected to the vessel’s internal spaces for additional aviation fuel capacity and weapons.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) earlier noted that the conversion of the Izumo-class will be carried out in two main stages, which dovetail with the vessels’ periodic refit and overhaul programmes that occur every five years.
Lead ship JS Izumo earlier seen in June 2021 with new features such as painted deck lines for fixed-wing aircraft operations as well as the application of a heat-resistant coating to the flight deck to prevent damage from the F-35B’s exhaust.
Japan’s Mid-Term Defense Program (MTDP) for FY 2019-2023 includes a stated aim to procure 18 F-35Bs, with the longer-term goal of acquiring up to 42 F-35B aircraft. The first batch of six aircraft is expected to be delivered in late 2024.
by Jr Ng
