Japan took an important step towards upgrading his naval capabilities when he took over the first three stealth F-35B fighter jets on Thursday, August 7, on Thursday, August 7, which will operate from Izumo and Kaga helicopter carriers in the future.
+ Deputy Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates tried the South Korean KF-21 Boamae fighter
The information was published by the Japanese Air Force (JASDF) press department.
The aircraft landed at the Newtabaru Air Base in Mijazak Prefecture. The fourth machine of the initial consignment also belonged to the United States, but remained there for unknown reasons and arrives in Japan later. According to the Ministry of Defense, four more F -35B aircraft will be handed over until March 2026.
Although officially belonging to the Air Force, the F-35Bs will play a naval role and will be on board Izumo and Kaga. These ships are classified as a “helicopter carrier destroyer”. However, new aircraft are actually becoming an easy aircraft carrier, although the term is avoided for political reasons and for interpretation of the constitution, which prohibits the creation of “offensive capacity”.
Ships prepared for the future
Originally, they are designed according to higher requirements than helicopters: they have hangars, lifts and decks capable of receiving vertically landing and landing aircraft. Although this was not officially announced, their design clearly indicated a strategic reserve for the future.
In 2021, Izumo successfully proved its ability to operate aircraft when one of the US F-35B aircraft landed on board. Since then, both ships have been transformed: deck reinforcement, heat-resistant coating, modernization of navigation systems, and installation of equipment, such as fuel refueling stations.
Successful sea tests
Between October 2024 and November, Kaga F-35B underwent an integration test, during which he made about 50 landing and landing. The tests checked the storage and maintenance of hangar, the simultaneous operation of the on-board, the night landing, the air-sea coordination and the surrounding air traffic control.
The Navy has also installed the JPALS precision approach to helicopter carriers, which are used in naval flight operations to increase operating capacity under any weather conditions.
With this transportation, Japan will re-become a significant player in the ship’s flight, and will revive the Japanese aircraft carriers, after decades that this type of ships have disappeared from the fleet.
Source and pictures: x @jasdf_pao_eng, @thef35jpo, Militarnyi.com. This content was made with artificial intelligence and checked by the editorial office.
