Japan took an important step in the modernization of its maritime capacity when the country on Thursday, August 7, received the first three F-35b-silence fighter aircraft with vertical start and landing, which in the future will be operated from the helicopter carriers Izumo and Kaga.
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The information was published by the press office of Japan’s self -defense air forces (JASDF).
The aircraft landed at Newtabaru Flybase in the Miyazaki prefecture. A fourth aircraft, which was part of the first delivery, remained in the United States for unpaid causes and will arrive later. According to the Ministry of Defense, another four F-35B will be delivered by March 2026.
Although they officially belong to the Air Defense, the F-35B will have a maritime role, operating on board Izumo and Kaga-ships that Japan classifies as “destroyers by helicopter deck”. With the integration of these aircraft, the vessels are in practice lightweight aircraft carriers, but the concept is avoided due to political limitations and the interpretation of the Constitution, which limits the establishment of “offensive capacity”.
Ships ready for the future
The ships were originally designed with specifications that exceeded the requirements for helicopters, with hangars, lifts and tires dimensioned in order to receive aircraft with vertical start and landing. Although this was not officially stated, the design indicated a strategic reserve for the future.
In 2021, Izumo confirmed its ability to operate aircraft when an F-35B from the US Marine Corps conducted a successful landing on the ship’s deck. Since then, both ships have undergone adjustments: reinforcement of the tire, application of heat -resistant coating, modernization of navigation systems and aviation facilitation, such as fuel filling stations.
Successful maritime tester
Between October and November 2024, Kaga conducted integration tests with F-35B, with around 50 landings and starts. The tests included parking and maintenance in hangar, simultaneous operations on deck, night landings, air-to-sea coordination and control of air traffic around the ship.
To expand the operational capacity in all weather conditions, the Navy has installed JPals, a precision flight system used in maritime air operations.
With this delivery, Japan regains a significant role in aviation from ships, which marks a rebirth of the Japanese aircraft carrier era after decades without such vessels in the fleet.
Source and pictures: x @jasdf_pao_eng, @thef35jpo, Militarnyi.com. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial staff.
