The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force carrier JS Kaga completed sea trials with F-35B test fighters this week an important milestone in the sea service's build-up in response to perceived threats from China F-35Bs from a United States Marine experimental squadron spent the last few weeks conducting air operations from the Kaga Kaga is classified as a destroyer but is better compared to its U.S Navy counterparts — Essex class Amphibious Assault Ships The carriers operate with helicopters and the F-35B — a jet that only needs a small length of runway to take off and can land vertically and Japanese Navy were onboard Kaga Wednesday free and open Indo-Pacific," said Vice Adm Japan's expanding naval capability has drawn criticism from China, which has accused Japan of inflating the threat from China as an excuse to rearm more than 75 years after its disarmament following World War II which operates two aircraft carriers of its own has for years engaged in its own military build-up establishing bases in the South China Sea and claiming international waters as its own Japan's constitution prohibits the country from operating "attack" aircraft carriers and its militaries are called "self-defense forces." But the country's constitution was reinterpreted in 2014 to allow the country to defend allies under attack Goka Yoshihiro is the commander of Japan's Fleet Escort Force He said the F-35B better enables the Maritime Self Defense Force to work with its allies — especially the U.S "(It's) for the security of democracies .. which will result in deterrence," Yoshihiro said through a translator About 350 Japanese sailors serve aboard the Kaga sailors from the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship USS Essex helped their Japanese counterparts learn the ropes of F-35B flight operations Petty Officer 3rd Class Maritza Valdez works as a flight deck firefighter She said life at sea on a Japanese ship is somewhat familiar but comes with some stark cultural differences "The type of food they have here is so much different from the Essex or any (U.S "The berthing as well — they have a hot tub here." Japan is set to begin receiving its own F-35Bs next year The Kaga will make a port call in San Diego before heading back to Japan Home » Japan to Test F-35B Aircraft with JS Kaga off San Diego The Izumo-class helicopter carrier (locally classified as “helicopter destroyer”) JS Kaga (DDH 184) went through modification work in order to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter aircraft According to a JMSDF press release issued today the operational tests will be conducted with the support of the U.S Navy in connection with the special modification of the destroyer Kaga The purpose of the tests is to “collect the data necessary for the operation of the F-35B on the Izumo-class destroyers.” Tests such as the short takeoff and on-board operation of the F-35B are scheduled to be conducted The operational tests of JS Kaga will be conducted as part of its “Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024” (IPD24) deployment As reported by Naval News the modifications on the two Izumo-class helicopter carriers – JS Izumo (DDH 183) and JS Kaga (DDH 184) – are underway in two main stages to coincide with the vessels’ periodic refit and overhaul programs The JMSDF expects both ships to complete all of the upgrades to become a light aircraft carrier operating F-35B fighters around fiscal year 2027 Japan Marine United (JMU) started refit work on Kaga at the company’s Kure shipyard in Hiroshima in March 2022. Its initial modifications include the modifications of the bow section of its flight deck into a square shape from a trapezoid similar to that found on the US Navy’s Wasp-class and America-class amphibious assault ships The first-stage modifications also include reinforcing the flight deck to support additional weight drawing the yellow lines on the flight deck necessary for launching and landing F-35Bs and fitting the ship with heat-resistant deck spots for vertical landings The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) plans to procure a total of 42 F-35Bs, along with 105 F-35As. The F-35Bs are expected to be deployed to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF’s) Nyutabaru Air Base on Kyushu Island Tokyo intends to enhance Japan’s ability to defend its remote southern islands including those near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands These islands are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This work, ICYMI-F-35B developmental sea trials continue aboard JS Kaga, by Michael Land, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Ryan Chan is a Newsweek reporter based in Hong Kong, where he previously had over a decade of experience at a local newspaper, covering China and current events around the world. His focus is on security and defense issues in the Western Pacific region. He is a graduate of Hong Kong Baptist University. You can get in touch with Ryan by emailing r.chan@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A Japanese helicopter destroyer, which bears the same name as an aircraft carrier that took part in Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, visited the Hawaiian harbor on Tuesday Newsweek has reached out to the Japanese Defense Ministry for comment by email Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Izumo-class JS Kaga (DDH-184) coming into Pearl Harbor - November 26, 2024 #jskaga #ddh184 pic.twitter.com/IBE90SdS4n The warship's namesake arises from Kaga Province, an administrative area of Japan that was abolished in the late 1800s. On December 7, 1941, six Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers, including one named after Kaga, launched an air raid on Pearl Harbor The attack, which killed 2,390 American service members and civilians, led the United States to declare war on Japan as well as later its allies Germany and Italy The war ended with Tokyo's surrender on September 2 "This visit builds upon the symbolic groundwork laid when President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor in 2016," Jeffrey J who is a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed by an American atomic bomb on August 6 and 9 with an estimated total of 150,000 to 246,000 people killed This marked the first and remained the only wartime use of nuclear weapons this is not the first time a Japanese self-defense force warship has been to Pearl Harbor and it was probably bound to happen eventually given the ever-growing security ties between the U.S Japan's postwar constitution prohibits the country, which is now a U.S. ally, from having offensive weapons such as attack aircraft carriers that are designed for the mass destruction of another country only as they would exceed the minimum necessary level for self-defense Tokyo claimed in 2018 that the modified shall continue to engage in missions such as the defense of the country as "multifunction destroyers," though they are now equipped to carry fighter jets The present-day Kaga completed its modifications in March following two years of work including the application of heat-resistant coating to its flight deck to support the operation of the F-35B Lightning II a stealth fighter jet capable of short takeoff and vertical landing The Kaga's trapezoidal bow was converted into a rectangle, and its flight deck was painted with new yellow markings to facilitate flight operations. It and its sister ship, JS Izumo, which began modifications in 2021 will be Japan's first aircraft carriers since the war According to the F-35B manufacturer Lockheed Martin the stealth aircraft is planned for its first formal deployment with the Izumo and the Kaga in 2027 and 2028 the Kaga conducted its first trials with the F-35B in the Eastern Pacific Ocean This improved the U.S.-Japan interoperability and strengthened the deterrence and response capabilities of the security alliance Besides the Izumo and the Kaga, Japan is the home of USS George Washington, one of 11 aircraft carriers in service with the U.S. Navy. The George Washington returned to a naval base in Japan last week for its second forward deployment in the East Asian allied nation The World War II-era Kaga was sunk after the Battle of Midway from June 4 to 7, 1942, off an atoll located to the northwest of Hawaii Its wreckage was discovered in 1999 and 2019 Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Black and white video from a webcam shows the moment the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga pulled into a U.S Its arrival came ahead of military readiness exercises that the U.S military is helping its Japanese counterparts conduct off the coast of California "This is an indication that Japan is stepping up to the plate, that that they understand the need to increase their own defensive capabilities and increase their alliance responsibility," said Adm. Harry Harris (Ret.), U.S. Navy, chairman of the U.S. Naval Institute and a former commander of the U.S This Japanese vessel was originally a helicopter carrier but it's now been converted into an aircraft carrier — one of the first two ever in Japan since World War II Harris said American F-35Bs will be landing on the Japanese ship Japan has the advanced fighter jets on order the vertical takeoff and landing F-35Bs from the Marine Corps will participate and help the Japanese – one to test out the systems on board the Kaga," he said RELATED STORY | Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo wins Nobel Peace Prize for work against nuclear weapons officials have said China's aggression in the South China Sea employs intimidation of coastal Asian nations such as bullying other countries out of offshore resources and threatening shipping lanes — a concern to U.S It's really the key to security in East Asia They have two aircraft carriers now," Admiral Harris said "and now they're building a aircraft carrier that resembles the U.S it shares a name with an imperial Japanese aircraft carrier which participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor where it now sits at the bottom of the ocean the admiral said it's just a name and the alliance between the U.S and Japan has come a long way since World War II we're celebrating our 72nd year of the alliance this year," Admiral Harris said "and I don't view the JS Kaga's name as an issue I view the JS Kaga's capability as significant to strengthening Japan and strengthening our alliance." Department of Defense for comment on this story the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga will continue conducting tests off the coast of San Diego RELATED STORY | A US bomb from World War II explodes at a Japanese airport, causing a large crater in a taxiway Today's print edition Home Delivery F-35 stealth fighter jet has successfully landed on Japan’s Kaga helicopter carrier for the first time as part of moves to turn the Kaga and its sister ship A test pilot flying a specially instrumented F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the advanced aircraft touched down Sunday afternoon off the southern coast of California Navy’s 7th Fleet said Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the MSDF is conducting tests to determine if there are issues with F-35Bs taking off from the Japanese vessel while also verifying procedures for storing the aircraft in its hangar In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Stay in the know with The National Interest newsletter © Copyright 2025 Center for the National Interest We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns military's F-35B stealth fighter jet has made the first landing on the Japanese destroyer Kaga in waters off San Diego the Maritime Self-Defense Force said Monday The exercise is slated to continue through Nov the MSDF will confirm whether the F-35B can take off from the Japanese vessel without problems as well as the procedures for storing aircraft in its hangar including making part of its flight deck heat-resistant to withstand aircraft landings before departing from the MSDF's Kure base in western Japan in September for the experiment in waters off California Japan's Defense Ministry conducted landing and takeoff tests of another destroyer The government has designated both the Izumo and the Kaga for convertsion into aircraft carriers Japan defense force ship sails through Taiwan Strait for 1st time Japan destroyer inadvertently entered China waters, captain sacked Western Japan city OKs deployment of U.S. Navy version of Osprey To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Garowe 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baarlamaanka Copyright © GAROWONLINE All Rights Reserved By 2024-11-08T19:21:00+00:00 US and UK forces have completed Lockheed Martin F-35B trials from the deck of the Japanese aircraft carrier JS Kaga The converted helicopter ship, which Tokyo calls a “multi-functional destroyer”, arrived off the coast of Southern California in September to conduct sea evaluations with the US Navy (USN) using F-35Bs The first sortie took place on 20 October with flight operations ramping up over the ensuing weeks to certificate the second of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF’s) Izumo-class flattop ships US F-35Bs conducted launch and recovery trials aboard JS Kaga during three weeks of flight operations off the coast of Southern California Japan is acquiring the F-35B for use aboard its two ‘multi-functional destroyers’ Senior US and Japanese leaders appeared aboard the Kaga on 6 November to mark the conclusion of the three-week evaluations Officials on hand included Vice Admiral John Wade commander of the USN’s Pacific-focused 3rd Fleet and JMSDF Fleet Escort Force commander Vice Admiral Goka Yoshihiro “This testing will support future training and operations by the JMSDF as they acquire [the] F-35 air system with its fifth-generation capabilities,” Wade said on 6 November. “The relationship between the US Navy and the JMSDF is as strong as ever.” The trials involved specially instrumented F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters from the US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 Sorties were flown by pilots from the US Marine Corps (USMC) and UK Royal Navy both of which services already operate the stealth fighter aboard vessels similar to Kaga “With the support of the US Navy and the US Marine Corps the destroyer has completed the F-35B training taking a step forward toward acquiring F-35B onboard operation capability,” the JMSDF says which gives the jet an expanded ordnance payload of 9,980kg (22,000lb) which had previously been equipped only to carry rotary-wing aircraft Japan has 42 examples of the STOVL variant on order “By acquiring F-35B operation capability as soon as possible we will further contribute to peace and stability in the region,” the JMSDF says Lockheed says it will deliver Japan’s first F-35B in 2025 The Japan Air Self-Defense Force already operates the conventional take-off and landing F-35A Modifications made to Kaga included expanding the area of the flight deck and painting the landing surface with heat-resistant materials to withstand the F-35B’s Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 vector-thrust engine saw USMC F-35Bs demonstrate landing and taking off from the ship in 2021 The vessel is now undergoing modifications to prepare for F-35B operations US F-35Bs conducted launch and recovery trials aboard JS Kaga during three weeks of flight operations off the coast of Southern California from 20 October to 6 November F-35Bs flown by US Marine Corps and UK Royal Navy pilots conducted sea trials aboard Japan's second Izumo-class aircraft carrier the JS Kaga in November 2024 and JMSDF Fleet Escort Force commander Vice Admiral Goka Yoshihiro marked the successful conclusion of trials on 6 November flight-deck personnel and logisticians from the US Navy’s Integrated Test Force also helped put the Kaga through its paces. Evaluated tasks included aircraft recovery via vertical landing refuelling and short take-off launching from the ship’s 248m (814ft)-long flight deck In addition to expanding the capability of the JMSDF the USN says the testing helped improve interoperability between American and Japanese services “strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance and strengthening the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region” Story updated to clarify status of JS Izumo The troubled Boeing T-7A advanced jet trainer programme has taken a step forward with a successful test of its new escape system Boeing 747 operators are being instructed to carry out prompt elevator checks after a 747-8 freighter was flown without balance weights after maintenance The US FAA states that the 747-8F was flown with a right-hand outboard elevator which had been received and installed without the weights Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is expanding its mainland China reach with a fifth destination Emirates plans to open the daily Dubai-Hangzhou service on 30 July – subject to government confirmation – and deploy Boeing 777-300ERs on the route Deputy president Adnan Kazim says the expansion .. The US Air Force (USAF) is looking for new options for air-to-air missiles The California company Stratolaunch is pioneering the development of a reusable flight vehicle capable of reaching speeds beyond Mach 5 Ten of the Boeing refuellers have been listed for sale on a US government auction website FlightGlobal is the global aviation community’s primary source of news analytics and advisory services to connect the aviation community globally and help organisations shape their business strategies identify new opportunities and make better decisions faster Site powered by Webvision Cloud member-first insights and commentary on the global aviation industry Japan's destroyer-turned-aircraft carrier just completed sea trials off the coast of California on Friday Central to the light carrier's power is the short take-off and landing version of the F-35 stealth fighter The JS Kaga is an Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer initially designed to accommodate up to 28 military helicopters The vessel measures just over 800 feet and weighs 24,000 tons — far smaller than modern flattops like the Nimitz-class carriers which measure more than 1,092 feet with a full-load displacement of over 100,000 long tons In 2018, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the ship would be refitted to accommodate and launch F-35B Lightning II aircraft Converting the ship to accommodate fighter jets goes against post-war Japan's pacifist beliefs so its navy designated the Kaga as a "multi-purpose destroyer" rather than an aircraft carrier the Kaga is not expected to be deployed like a traditional carrier They don't have any of the infrastructure for it to be deployed as such They don't have any sort of intention to go further than what it is right now." The Japanese destroyer's refitting process was completed in April this year the Kaga began sea trials in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of California near San Diego On October 21, the US took a major step by landing an F-35B on the flight deck of the newly converted vessel American defense contractor Lockheed Martin manufactures the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets which have been acquired by US allies around the globe and touted as one of the world's most advanced fighters that allows it to land and take-off like a helicopter Lockheed's F-35 program was plagued by payment headwinds brought on by the government contracting process causing the company's shares to slide 5% despite the higher forecast The sea trials were comprised of personnel from the US Navy and Marine Corps and the UK Royal Air Force and Navy "We remain committed to working together for a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific and deepening ties with allied navies," the navy added to which China said the ship's passage was legal and that the two incidents weren't linked Home » US Navy F-35B successfully lands aboard JS Kaga for the first time “Sea trials will leverage the ship’s recent modifications to conduct fixed-wing aircraft operations The trials will also pave the way for allies’ increased ability to operate in conjunction with each other.”Michael Land a public affairs officer for the Naval Air Station Patuxent River “This test is essential for strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities and is of utmost importance We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the ITF,” Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt “This test does not merely enhance the capabilities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force It also improves the interoperability between Japan and the U.S. strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S thereby contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” the captain also said In September, the JMSDF announced its helicopter carrier JS Kaga plans to conduct on-board operational tests of F-35B aircraft off the coast of San Diego With the support of the USN and United States Marine Corps F-35B fighter aircraft from the VX-23 is scheduled to conduct primary tests such as short takeoff which is being converted into a fully-fledged aircraft carrier capable of enabling F-35B operations The operational tests of the Kaga is being conducted as part of the deployment of the JMSDF’s 4th Surface Unit for the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 (IPD24) About 20 members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are also participating in the operational tests The JMSDF is currently modifying its two Izumo-class helicopter carriers – JS Izumo and JS Kaga – into light aircraft carriers The conversion of the Izumo-class vessels into aircraft carriers is aimed at strengthening deterrence against the Chinese military which is making aggressive advances into the East and South China Seas and the Pacific Ocean The two vessels have been modified twice each taking advantage of the ships’ periodic refit and overhaul programs The Kaga just finished its first major modification at the end of March this year Part of the ship’s deck also has been made heat-resistant to withstand the heat of aircraft landings the JMSDF also conducted takeoff and landing tests of the F-35B on the Izumo The tests took place off the coast of Shikoku Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni participated the Izumo is undergoing the conversion of the bow section of its flight deck from a trapezoid into a square shape The Kaga underwent the same modifications during fiscal year 2023 The ministry said the Izumo’s modification is scheduled to be completed in fiscal year 2027 The two Izumo-class helicopter carriers (locally classified as “helicopter destroyers”) are 248 meters long and have a standard displacement of 19,500 tons The JASDF has yet to receive any U.S.-made F-35Bs although the first is scheduled to be delivered to Japan by the end of fiscal year 2024 The JASDF plans to acquire a total of 42 F-35Bs The Ministry of Defense in Tokyo plans to deploy the fighter aircraft to JASDF’s Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture located in southeastern Kyushu Island on Japan’s Pacific coast by establishing a roughly 110-men Temporary F-35B Squadron in the air base This work, F-35B test jet begins sea trials with Japanese multi-functional destroyer in eastern Pacific Ocean, by Michael Land, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright This work, Carderock team provides critical technical support for F-35B sea trials on JS Kaga, by Alisha Tyer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright fifth-generation fighter jet landed on a Japanese helicopter destroyer this week bringing Japan one step closer to taking its own advanced stealth fighters to sea An F-35B Lightning II landed Sunday aboard the helicopter destroyer JS Kaga off San Diego’s coast the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced Monday on social platform X an 814-foot-long flat deck carrier designed for helicopters was modified to also carry the F-35B multirole fighters The flight deck was strengthened to withstand the heat of the fighter’s engines during short takeoffs and vertical landings The ship’s bow was modified to reduce turbulence and extend the flight deck The modified vessel went to sea for trials in November The landing was part of an ongoing 45-day trial of the Kaga’s modifications led by the U.S Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 Naval Air System Command’s largest flight-test squadron a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday a test pilot with the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force according to a test force news release Monday “This test is essential for strengthening Japan’s defense capabilities and is of utmost importance,” the Kaga’s skipper “We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the ITF.” which is working with the evaluation squadron on the Kaga’s trials logistics specialists and other personnel from the U.S “We are proud to be part of this joint effort to test the compatibility of F-35B aboard JS Kaga,” Seth Dion “Our team has prepared meticulously for this mission and we are committed to working closely with our allies to achieve our shared goals and strengthen our partnership.” Additional tests are scheduled to determine if the ship has adequate maintenance space and whether the fighters can be adequately secured and maneuvered through Kaga’s hangar bay the Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman said Some Japanese government spokespeople may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity Both Japanese ships still require another round of modifications a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes in April The Izumo’s final phase is scheduled to begin this fiscal year and the Kaga’s will begin after the Izumo is complete Japan’s Defense Ministry in 2011 selected the F-35 as its next-generation aircraft according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s website with delivery of the first six expected at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru Base by March 31 Japan views the ability to use the jets at sea as “necessary in order to be fully prepared to protect Japan’s seas and skies while ensuring safety of the self-defense forces personnel,” according to a 2022 white paper The United States is helping Japan build its first post-war aircraft carriers with a Japanese helicopter carrier currently undergoing conversion into a light aircraft carrier having arrived in California for flight tests San Diego Web Cam, a channel featuring live streaming webcam views of the city and its bay, captured the arrival of JS Kaga on Saturday, blanketed in dense fog The Japanese ship has a displacement of 19,950 tons and is 813 feet in length The Kaga was built as the second of Japan's Izumo-class helicopter-carrying destroyers and entered service in 2017 It bears the name of the World War II-era aircraft carrier Kaga which took part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Izumo-class carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) coming into foggy San Diego - October 5, 2024 #jskaga #ddh184SRC: webcam pic.twitter.com/tBdVI5YnvE According to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force the Kaga will conduct flight tests with F-35B fighter jets off San Diego including short-takeoff and vertical landing The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, a U.S. Defense Department program office that leads the life-cycle program management of the fifth-generation fighter jet confirmed to Newsweek that the Kaga will carry out F-35B developmental tests in the Eastern Pacific Ocean secure and efficient flight tests in partnership with U.S "The trials will pave the way for increased interoperability with our allies," it said Newsweek has also contacted the Japanese Defense Ministry for comment by email carrying U.S.-designed stealthy F-35B fighter jets which was invaded by Japan during World War II Beijing has claimed that Tokyo might violate its pacifist constitution which was the legal basis for the country's adherence to peaceful post-war development Japan is prohibited from having "offensive weapons" that can be used only for the mass destruction of another country including "attack aircraft carriers," as they would directly exceed the definition of the "minimum necessary level" for self-defense the country's 2018 defense program guidelines said the modified Izumo-class warships shall continue to engage as "multi-function destroyers" in missions such as defense of the country In addition they would not have any permanently assigned fighter jet squadrons The procurement of the F-35B is part of the Izumo-class modification plan Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Izumo-class carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) coming into foggy San Diego - October 5, 2024 #jskaga #ddh184SRC: INST- yellowmanbb pic.twitter.com/Pq976LzzEB The possession of aircraft carriers will enable Japan to have greater flexibility in its fighter jet operations in the contested East China Sea where it has territorial disputes with China Tokyo has planned to purchase 42 F-35B fighter jets for its Air Self-Defense Force Upgrades also included the application of heat-resistant coating to the flight deck with the Izumo and the Kaga now resembling U.S Both Japanese warships are expected to carry fighter jets by 2027 ET: This article has been updated with comment from the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office A Japanese warship recently concluded F-35B Lightning II trials off Southern California part of Japan’s pursuit of fifth-generation fighter capabilities at sea The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Tuesday released video footage of an F-35B landing aboard the JS Kaga an 814-foot-long flattop vessel designed for helicopters and recently modified to accommodate the advanced stealth fighters The ability to deploy F-35Bs at sea will strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance and “contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Maritime Self-Defense Force said in the video’s caption posted to social platform X 6 successfully completed trials that included more than 100 short takeoffs and vertical landings a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday which included travel time to and from California “By conducting take-offs and landings by F-35Bs we were able to gather fundamental data,” the spokesman said a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Oct held a press conference when the trials ended and voiced their commitment to deepening ties and working together Japan completed a variety of upgrades to the Kaga on March 29 to accommodate F-35Bs a variant of the Lightning II capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings The flight deck was strengthened to withstand the fighter engine’s heat during operations lights were installed for nighttime operations and the bow was modified to reduce turbulence and extend the flight deck The modified vessel started for California in October to begin the trials which included sorties and tests to see if the ship has adequate maintenance space or whether jets could be secured and maneuvered through the Kaga’s hangar bay but both ships still require another round of modifications The final phase of modifications for the Izumo began Nov 1; the Kaga’s will begin after the Izumo is complete according to the Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman What You Need to Know: A Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B has successfully landed on the Japanese flattop JS Kaga for the first time marking another step in enhancing interoperability among allied forces in the Indo-Pacific -The transformation of Japan’s JS Kaga and JS Izumo into F-35B-compatible carriers reflects Tokyo’s evolving defense capabilities amid regional tensions -While Japan avoids calling these ships “aircraft carriers” due to constitutional restrictions their expanded air capabilities have drawn China’s attention as the upgraded Izumo-class carriers could support air operations reaching targets within mainland China “Landmark landing! A F-35 pilot has landed on a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force platform for the first time. @RoyalNavy Lt Cmdr Baker – a test pilot on exchange with the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force – conducted the flight that aims to boost allies’ integration,” UK Defence Staff in US announced on X the social media platform formerly known as Twitter The vertical landing on November 2 occurred while the JMDSF warship was operating in the Pacific Ocean “Pax ITF flight test members, U.S. Sailors and Marines, and the JS Kaga crew are executing developmental tests during these sea trials to gather the necessary compatibility data to certify F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft operations,” the F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (PAX ITF) announced the test team will make recommendations for future F-35B operational launch and recovery envelopes further enhancing the Japanese navy’s capabilities,” PAX ITF added “The results of the testing will contribute to improved interoperability between Japan and the United States alliance and strengthening the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.” JS Kaga is one of the JMSDF Izumo-class multi-functional destroyers being transformed to operate with the F-35B the fifth-generation fighter’s short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant The ongoing tests follow similar ones carried out with JS Izumo in 2021 marking the first time a Japanese warship has operated with fixed-wing aircraft since the Second World War The JMSDF has operated the JS Izumo and JS Kaga since 2013 and 2015 respectively Though the two warships may resemble modern aircraft carriers were officially described by Tokyo as a “multi-purpose operation destroyer” due to their main purpose being to seek out and destroy enemy submarines in the self-defense of Japan with rotary aircraft Tokyo approved a plan that would greatly enhance the capabilities of the warships – transforming them into de facto aircraft carriers Each of the vessels has already begun a two-stage transformation that will allow them to operate fixed-wing aircraft – notably the F-35B Lightning II JS Izumo has undergone its initial modification stage which included the application of heat-resistant paint to its flight deck while JS Kaga has seen the aforementioned modification of its bow section – which has resulted in it earning comparisons to the U.S Navy’s Wasp-class and America-class amphibious assault ships Despite the modifications to its helicopter destroyers, Tokyo remains cautious in its exact terminology refraining from explicitly labeling the modified Izumo-class vessels as aircraft carriers That decision aligns with the nation’s long-standing defensive security policies under the pacifist constitution which was adopted after the Second World War It did require some “reinterpretation” of the constitution’s Article 9 – allowing Japan to exercise the right of “collective self-defense,” and to engage in military action if one of its allies were to be attacked each of the converted warships could greatly enhance the JMSDF’s ability to carry out air operations in the contested East China Sea – a move that has earned condemnation from Beijing China may also note that Japan could be among the largest operators of the F-35 in Asia and is currently on track to purchase at least 42 of the fifth-generation stealth fighters The carrier-based aircraft could be employed to strike positions within mainland China. According to a report from Interesting Engineering researchers at the National Defence University’s College of Joint Operations operated by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have conducted war game studies and warned that U.S.-made stealth aircraft – including the F-35 but also the F-22 Raptor – could hit already Shanghai with cruise missiles while operating from Japanese airspace the stealth F-35B could possibly strike targets even deeper within China Whether that fact serves as a deterrent to Beijing or only increases the saber-rattling has yet to be seen Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock Nothing about the M10 “light” tank made sense given the current threat environment American forces face Irrespective of what one thinks of Israel’s actions from a moral standpoint the facts are clear from a strategic standpoint Israel’s massive bombing campaign against Gaza simply isn’t working In a remarkable move—at least for Russian military doctrine—the engineers at Uralvagonzavod built the Vepr around the prospect of enhancing the safety of the crew The Battle of Inchon was an amphibious invasion during the Korean War resulting in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations The operation involved some 75,000 troops and 261 naval ships and led to the recapture of the South Korean capital of Seoul two weeks later The battle began on 15th September 1950 and ended four days later The largely undefended city of Incheon was secured after being bombed by UN forces The battle ended a string of victories by the invading North Korean People’s Army The subsequent UN recapture of Seoul partially severed the NKPA’s supply lines in South Korea landed on the favorable eastern shore of Leyte one of the islands of the Visayas island group Their second major target to attack was Mindoro This large island is directly south of Luzon and Manila Bay and MacArthur’s main goal in taking it was to be able to construct airfields on it for fighter planes that could dominate the sky over the most important island of Luzon with its major seaport and the capital city of Manila Mindoro was only lightly occupied by the Japanese Army and much of it was held by Filipino guerrillas Army engineers set about rapidly constructing a major air base at San Fabian Mindoro was a major victory for the 6th Army and it also provided the major base for the next move of MacArthur’s 6th Army: the invasion of Luzon especially at Lingayen Gulf on its western coast which were invaded on January 9th 1945 when the first unites were lended there Almost 175,000 men followed across the twenty-mile beachhead within a few days 1st Cavalry Division pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and the 8th Cavalry Regiment passed through the northern suburbs and into the city itself 1915) was the British and Allies’ attempt to capture the Dardanelles and eventually march on Istanbul forcing the surrender of the Ottoman Empire and gaining control of the Black Sea beyond It was the first time in modern history that a large-scale amphibious operation was ever attempted However it is widely viewed that this campaign was mismanaged and under-committed to from the start The most successful operation of the campaign Gallipoli is the long strip of land that runs across from the North-Western tip of the European side of Turkey Both these sides of the Dardanelles were heavily defended by Ottoman forts and guns comprised of many old and outdated warships The next attempt was by land and so British (including Canadians and Indians) and New Zealand troops were shipped out to Gallipoli British ships bombarded the tip of the peninsula The Turkish and Arab troops shored up their defenses with high ground machine guns and barbed wire set in the water The British and French landed at Cape Helles and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) landed on what became known as Anzac Cove a few miles to the North on the Aegean side of Gallipoli to cut of the Ottomans and meet the other divisions in the middle the Allied forces had hardly made it off the beaches The last attempt to break this came in August succeeded in pushing several miles inland before the Ottomans finally overcame the weary and few men were left after the haphazard assault The British and French would finally leave Cape Helles in early January 1916 The full-scale evacuation of troops began on December 15th many set rifles and explosives on innovative timing devices and planted grenades and mines to both make the Ottomans think they were still there and to harass them with booby traps when they did finally come to inspect the abandoned trenches Though it is thought that the Ottomans were totally deceived by White’s plan it is entirely possible that Mustafa Kemal as the campaign caused thousands of casualties among his troops the Allies had suffered well over 100,000 casualties and the Ottoman Empire roughly double that was the largest of the amphibious landings to take place in history if a head to head statistical analysis is made it becomes quite clear that the largest Amphibious landing took place when Nazi Germany was almost completely beaten The Battle of Okinawa was fought in the Pacific Theater between the Allies the Battle was made up of a string of skirmishes in the Ryukyu Islands the Allies launched a full on amphibious assault on the islands with the aim to defeat the Japanese at Okinawa The battle is one of the fiercest and bloodiest in the entire Pacific campaign due to the striking intensity of Japanese Kamikaze attacks and numerical strength of Allied warships reinforcements were landed on the Allied side who had effectively cut off all routes to the island for the Japanese which was thus unable to reinforce or resupply their troops The last remains of Japanese resistance ceased on 21st June The losses incurred during the battle made the US high command reconsider all plans for a Japanese mainland invasion The US lost almost 20,000 men while the Japanese lost over 77,000; in addition was one of the most decisive Amphibious Assaults in modern history The landings commenced on 6th June 1944 and started the liberation of Western Europe While the Battle of Okinawa involved more ground troops Operation Overlord is often seen as more significant having a greater impact in history that Okinawa The Allied forces consisted of a total of 156,000 men compared to almost 50,000 Germans with support from 170 coastal guns anticipating such an assault ordered Field Marshall Erwin Rommel to take command of the German forces in 1943 and build the Atlantic Wall to thwart attempts by the Allies to retake France a massive airborne assault targeting the German batteries and defenses on the shore was executed and thousands of airborne troops landed deep behind enemy lines The amphibious landings began at 0630 on target beaches that were divided into 5 sectors; Utah and Omaha for the Americans Gold and Sword for the Brittish and Juno for the Canadians Sword and Gold faced slightly lighter resistance than expected but on Juno and on Omaha the Germans made the Allies pay a heavy price for every inch they gained This was the most decisive invasion during World War II opening the way for a counter-offensive against the Nazi German occupation of Allied countries in Western Europe modified to carry fifth-generation fighters is expected in California later this year for a test run 18 for flight tests with F-35B Lightning II multirole jets off San Diego the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced Sept The stateside testing will employ F-35Bs from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 Naval Air Systems Command’s largest flight-test squadron according to a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman Testing will include short-range take-off and landing and vertical landing he told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday Multiple tests are planned throughout the 45-day trial Further evaluations will determine if the fighters can be adequately secured while the Kaga is underway whether the jets are moved smoothly into the hangar bay and if the maintenance space is adequate About 20 Japanese airmen are expected to join the maritime force for introductory training with the F-35Bs Japan on March 29 completed a variety of upgrades to the Kaga to accommodate F-35Bs including new heat-resistant paint on its flight deck lights for nighttime operations and reshaping the flight deck’s bow The B variant is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings ideal for Japan’s 814-foot helicopter destroyers The Kaga’s overhaul came three years after a similar retrofit to its sister ship Both flattops require another round of modifications; the Izumo’s final step is scheduled to begin this fiscal year and the Kaga’s to begin after the Izumo is complete The upgrades are one of the final chapters in Japan’s mission to acquire F-35B capability The Defense Ministry views the ability to use the jets at sea as “necessary in order to be fully prepared to protect Japan’s seas and skies The Defense Ministry asked for about $795 million in 2020 to purchase six F-35Bs from the U.S and about $29 million for upgrades to the Izumo the ministry sought another $474 million for four more F-35Bs and $61 million for upgrades to the carriers’ flight decks with the first six expected to be delivered at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru base in Miyazaki prefecture by the end of this fiscal year Japan’s fiscal year begins April 1 and ends March 31st Sign up for the Breaking Defense newsletter An F-35B lands aboard Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) for the first time on Oct WASHINGTON — The US Navy for the first time landed an F-35B onboard Japan’s largest ship during sea trials off the coast of southern California We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the [integrated test force],” said Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt “This test does not merely enhance the capabilities of [Japan’s] Maritime Self-Defense Force thereby contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” The Kaga underwent several changes to allow for F-35B the US Marine Corps’ short-take-off-and-vertical-landing variant including painting the flight deck with a heat-resistant material installing lights for nighttime operations and reshaping the flight deck’s bow from a trapezoid to a rectangle The Japanese ship departed from Kure Naval Base in Hiroshima The F-35 is detached from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23) based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland The sea trials are scheduled to last approximately three weeks Those upgrades included a new military-industrial council to explore weapons for co-production as well as a new joint headquarters in Tokyo Biden has also hosted the leaders of both Japan and South Korea for a trilateral summit in an effort to mend what has been a historically fractured relationship between the two Asian countries Sign up and get Breaking Defense news in your inbox Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA led a large delegation of foreign diplomats accredited to Bangui namely the Minister of Communication and Media/Government Spokesperson and his colleague Hyppolite Jean Paul Ngate Robard Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Private Sector Promotion/Resident Minister The objective of this mission was to allow the members of the diplomatic corps to get a glimpse of the realities on the ground by discussing with the local authorities and the population the progress made in the peace and reconciliation process as well as the stabilization of this strategic prefecture of Nana-Gribizi “We are here to listen to you and hear from you but also to appreciate all that you have achieved Nothing is possible without peace and stability and you are the actors of this peace and stability,” the SRSG told local authorities and representatives of civil society organizations in a full conference room at Kaga-Bandoro’s town hall (Mairie) Valentine Rugwabiza also informed them that this was the first-ever joint field visit in the mission's history involving all members of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives from the Government of CAR The Cameroonian Ambassador to the Central African Republic (CAR) stated that he was extremely happy to return to Kaga-Bandoro and to witness the restoration of state authority and that the people are pleased with the work done by the United Nations and other international partners "We see a population that is coming back to life feeling more and more comfortable about resuming activities and this is work that is only just beginning “We came here to see the progress made by the restoration of state authority in the provinces as my colleague from Cameroon has just said everything we have been able to visit today actually confirms the opinion that we had from Bangui that the state was redeploying and that MINUSCA was playing a very essential role in this redeployment with women who asked us for some additional support and it is the first achievement without which we cannot do anything and it is on this that we must build," added the French ambassador the recently appointed European Union Ambassador to the Central African Republic praised the work of MINUSCA and the government "I was really very impressed by what I saw by the quality of the work that MINUSCA is doing in all its areas of responsibility I think that this is proof of the progress in terms of stabilization we will be able to move forward towards development programs," he said the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States of America expressed his pride in seeing the positive impact of the projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) "I am really proud to be here today because there are good MINUSCA programs and we must also work with the European Union and the diplomatic community to improve the level of stability and also the empowerment of women (...) there are still many things to do," he pointed out Women's political participation and vocational training for the youth: two issues of concern for Nana-Gribizi citizens During the meeting with members of the “Comité de mise en œuvre préfectoral (CMOP) de l’Accord politique pour la Paix et la Réconciliation en RCA (APPR-RCA)” the “Comité local pour la paix et la reconciliation” (CLPR) and other local leaders representing women and youth organizations the Minister of Communication and Media/Government Spokesperson congratulated the populations for their resilience as well as for their contribution to the return of peace and the strengthening of social cohesion while encouraging them to continue working to preserve peace and national unity with a view to ensuring the integral development of their community as well as community and civil society leaders praised the work done in partnership with MINUSCA and the United Nations country team while asking them to continue proving their support because there are still some needs that require additional support highlighted the fact that most young people are unemployed because they are vulnerable and exposed to recruitment by armed groups that offer them an occupation They advocated for the construction of a vocational training center to offer the Nana-Gribizi youth better professional prospects one of the only two women members of the Kaga-Bandoro City Council deplored the low representation of women in decision-making bodies while acknowledging the remarkable work done in partnership with MINUSCA for the empowerment of women through various training projects and income-generating activities Valentine Rugwabiza thanked the members of the CMOP for their contribution to the peace process “You are the ones who went where you were told that conflicts were beginning You are the ones who took the road to meet with the different communities and ensure that these conflicts did not take place and I encourage you to continue this work,” she told them Regarding the representation of women in local administration the SRSG invited women to register in large numbers when the registration operations on the electoral lists begin and you must tell all your other sisters (...) There are several of you who do not have identity documents," said Valentine Rugwabiza in partnership with UN-Women and the Central African Government MINUSCA would support the women in obtaining their identity documents to be able to register on the electoral lists and thus participate fully in the electoral process She also informed that upon returning to Bangui from this visit the Mission would work with the ambassadors to see how they could make this vocational training center for the youth a reality the delegation visited several achievements and projects implemented by the United Nations in Kaga-Bandoro the delegation members were able to visit an income-generating project aimed at promoting food self-sufficiency among prisoners through professional training in baking and the construction of a bread oven This enables the prisoners to produce and market bread thereby enhancing their living conditions and fostering their professional reintegration upon their release from prison as well as the Ministers also visited a project aimed at supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their neighborhoods and villages of origin implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with USAID funding This project has enabled thousands of households to return home either to the neighborhoods in Kaga-Bandoro center or to their villages of origin has built a brand-new building for the town hall (Mairie) as well as two bridges and jointly implemented with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) another project to support the return of internally displaced persons through the provision of kits including oxen and agricultural tools to enable the social reintegration of returnees the site that hosted thousands of internally displaced persons in front of MINUSCA base in Kaga-Bandoro has been closed and all households have been able to return home The joint diplomatic and GoCAR delegation also visited the site that will host the festivities of the celebration of World Food Day 2024 which will take place in Kaga-Bandoro during the upcoming weeks The MINUSCA Pakistan Military Engineering Company (PakEng) is supporting the local authorities in the development of this site the Special Representative of the Secretary-General the diplomatic corps and the GoCAR representatives visited the MINUSCA level II hospital managed by the Bangladeshi contingent (BanMed) which provides essential support to the Kaga-Bandoro prefectural hospital and to the local population by providing free treatment to patients referred there organized on a regular basis as part of Civil-military (Cimic) activities A US F-35 stealth fighter jet landed aboard Japan's new destroyer-turned-aircraft carrier for the first time off the coast of California It's a major step in integrating the F-35B short-takeoff/vertical landing variant used by the US Marine Corps and the British Royal Navy on its carriers into Japan's self-defense forces The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin The modifications include a deck painted with heat-resistant material to withstand the F-35B variant's vector-thrust engines "This test is essential for strengthening Japan's defense capabilities and is of utmost importance We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the ITF," Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt referring to the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force "This test does not merely enhance the capabilities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force It also improves the interoperability between Japan and the US strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance thereby contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," he added The Kaga is involved in ongoing sea trials Kaga's successful modification also paves the way for another Japanese helicopter carrier Japan has been dramatically overhauling its Self-Defense Force since October 2021 creating its first amphibious military unit and developing its first aircraft carriers since World War II North Dakota Native American Essential Understanding "Native people practice a deep interconnectedness with the land and a strong belief in the sacredness of all human beings enrolled member of the Standing Rock Nation in part one of “Hinhan Kaga and The Milky Way.” we have this blessing of having abundant open spaces and abundant beauty all around us So it's really striking and when people come from afar that's one of the first things they might comment upon then you can really see the beauty in so many areas We don't have light pollution where you can just look at you can see all the stars out there and you can talk about and then you can tell those stories too about the stars then you start that journey on that Wanaki Chankoo I was trying to do a little program and talk about all the birds and the stars and the moon If you'd like to learn more about the North Dakota Native American essential understandings, and to listen to more Indigenous elder interviews, visit teachingsofourelders.org Dakota Datebook: Teachings of Our Elders is produced with support from and in collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction -This strategy underscores Tokyo’s commitment to countering China’s aggressive military modernization particularly its pursuit of AI-driven “intelligentized warfare.” This configuration makes sense for several reasons particularly given Japan’s multi-billion dollar F-35B buy which has progressed quickly in recent years Yet another part of this equation is that Japan is massively revving up its defense budget mainly because its defense papers specify a serious and fast-growing Chinese threat the Japanese Ministry of Defense requested a massive $52.9 billion defense budget Marine Corps F-35B Lightning ll aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepare for takeoff from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni VMFA-121 is the first forward deployed Marine F-35B squadron capable of providing close air support and conducting strike missions in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific Coordinated Navies are significant because the US and its Pacific allies operate with a decisive 5th-generation advantage in the air. China operates the J-20, but that is a land-launched platform incapable of projection power from the ocean; the J-20 may also be more vulnerable to F-35s and F-22s depending upon the range and fidelity of its sensors and the range and accuracy of its weapons systems the US and its allies are increasingly able to operate a large force of F-35s to counter or contain China from the air This kind of tactical thinking is likely a significant reason why the Japanese MOD is both acquiring F-35s and building “mini-carriers.”  The 2023 Warrior Maven analysis describes “Intelligentized warfare” as something that can impact a wide sphere of weapons systems and technology programs where there is not a civilian-military divide in any respect regarding budgets and the exchange of technology satellite data can be processed and transmitted more quickly and even nuclear weapons can receive and organize upgraded targeting information potentially enabling weapons to change course in flight assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced) prepares to receive fuel from a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Aircraft Refueling Squadron during an in-air refueling mission supporting Operation Octave Quartz with armed aerial patrols over Somalia Marine F-35Bs support to OOQ demonstrates the U.S military’s ability to hold adversaries such as al Shabaab at risk with flexible precise and lethal force capable of rapidly responding anywhere on the globe Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19 FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven - Center for Military Modernization Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University Summary and Key Points: Japan is sending its modified Izumo-class helicopter carrier West Coast for flight operations with the F-35B Lightning II between October and November 2024 Some experts consider the vessel a quasi-aircraft carrier.  -This follows Japan’s strategic move to upgrade its Izumo-class vessels to operate fixed-wing aircraft Though officially termed “multi-purpose operation destroyers” to align with Japan’s pacifist constitution the modifications bring them closer to aircraft carriers marking a significant step in Japan’s defense strategy under its reinterpreted constitution allowing for “collective self-defense.” -China’s concerns about Japan’s military resurgence have heightened with these developments One of the two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) modified Izumo-class helicopter carriers will be heading to the United States, where it will engage in flight operations with the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II JS Kaga (DDH-184) will assess its “ability to operate” the short take-offs and vertical landings (STOVL) fifth-generation fighter in “developmental tests… scheduled to take place between October 5 and November 18, 2024, off the coast of San Diego,” Army Recognition reported on Tuesday The United States Marine Corps had previously conducted STOLV exercises on JS Izumo (DDH-183) in October 2021. “U.S. Marines embarked aboard the JS Izumo and worked directly with JMSDF personnel as part of a bilateral effort to ensure the capability test was both effective and safe,” the service previously announced JS Kaga is about to begin its Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 the first since it underwent the modifications that enabled it to operate the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter The post-World War II Japanese constitution renounced war as the sovereign right of the nation and armed forces with war potential would not be maintained That constitution is also notable in that it hasn’t been amended since its implementation in 1947 it has been a matter of semantics when it comes to aircraft carriers The JMSDF has operated the JS Izumo and JS Kaga multi-role flattops since 2013 and 2015 respectively the two warships may resemble modern aircraft carriers but were officially described by Tokyo as a “multi-purpose operation destroyer” due to their main purpose being to seek out and destroy enemy submarines in the self-defense of Japan.  However, the vessels have each begun a two-stage transformation that will allow them to operate fixed-wing aircraft – notably the F-35B Lightning II That has included the application of heat-resistant paint to its flight deck – suggesting it is far easier to change the capabilities of a warship than it is to modify the Japanese constitution JS Kaga has seen the modification of its bow section that has earned comparisons to the U.S According to Naval News “The first-stage modifications also include reinforcing the flight deck to support additional weight and fitting the ship with heat-resistant deck spots for vertical landings.” despite these modifications of the vessels Tokyo remains cautious in its exact terminology Instead, in 2014, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a reinterpretation of Article 9 which allowed Japan to exercise the right of “collective self-defense,” in some instances and even to engage in military action if one of its allies were to be attacked Beijing has expressed concerns over Japanese remilitarization efforts, including its decision to operate what are essentially “ mini-aircraft carriers” in everything but name Navy F-35B Lightning II landed aboard the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Kaga on Sunday the first time the aircraft has landed aboard the JMSDF multi-function destroyer A test pilot landed a specially instrumented F-35B from the U.S Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23 Evaluators) on the Kaga off the southern coast of California with the aircraft touching down about 3:15PM local time The landing of the F-35B is part of the start of developmental tests of the Kaga’s modifications to support future F-35B operations which are planned to continue over the next three weeks The Kaga has received new heat-resistant deck material that can tolerate the heat of the F-35B’s engine exhaust in vertical landing mode and a reshaped flight deck bow that is now rectangular instead of trapezoid We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the ITF,” said Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt The F-35B is joined by a test team from the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (Pax ITF) who embarked the Kaga during its port call in San Diego last week the Pax ITF team includes aircraft maintainers “We are proud to be part of this joint effort to test the compatibility of F-35B aboard JS Kaga,” said Seth Dion and we are committed to working closely with our allies to achieve our shared goals and strengthen our partnership.” Marine Corps F-35Bs have previously landed on sister ship JS Izumo in October 2021 with the Izumo to receive further modifications to better support F-35B operations incorporating lessons learned from those trials Japan currently plans to procure 42 F-35Bs with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force planned to receive its first F-35Bs by the end of the current fiscal year in March 2025 The F-35Bs will be initially operated by a “temporary” squadron based at Nyutabaru Air Base on the island of Kyushu Tags: , , , , , By 2024-09-11T09:29:00 Japan’s return to the aircraft carrier club will advance with JS Kaga set to spend over a month conducting flight test work with Lockheed Martin F-35Bs You have reached your limit of free articles for this period Register for a FREE account to read this article and benefit from: Join now member-first insights and commentary on the global aviation industry.