Japan has taken an important step in the modernization of its naval skills by receiving, Thursday 7, the first three stealth hunting with vertical F-35B vertical take-off, which in the future will operate from the Izumo and Kaga Portaelicopteri.
+ Deputy Minister of Defense of the EAU proofs the South Korean hunting KF-21 Boramae
The information was made known by the Japanese self -defense air force press office (Jasdf).
The aircraft landed at the Newtabaru air base in Miyazaki’s prefecture. A fourth jet, part of the initial lot, remained in the United States for not specified reasons and should arrive later. According to the Ministry of Defense, four other F-35B will be delivered by March 2026.
Although they officially part of the Air Force, the F-35B will play a naval role, operating on board the hyizumo and Kaga, ships classified by Japan as a “Destroyer of Portaelicotteri”. With the integration of these aircraft, the boats will actually become a would -read carriers, but this terminology is avoided for political reasons and for the interpretation of the Constitution, which limits the creation of an “offensive capacity”.
Navi ready for the future
Designed from the beginning with specifications higher than those necessary for helicopters, the two ships had Hangar, elevators and bridges sized to accommodate take -off and vertical landing aircraft. Although this has never been officially declared, the configuration indicated a strategic reserve for the future.
In 2021, Izumo confirmed its ability to operate with planes by successfully carrying out reduction tests with an F-35B of the United States’s Marines Corps. Since then, both ships have been subjected to modernization work: reinforcement of the bridge, application of heat -resistant coating, updating of navigation and adaptation systems to receive aeronautical equipment as refueling points.
Successful naval tests
Between October and November 2024, the Kaga underwent integration tests with the F-35B hunting, making about 50 sags and take-off. The tests included parking and maintenance in Hangar, simultaneous operations on the bridge, night supporting, air-mare coordination and air traffic control around the ship.
To expand the operational capacity in any meteorological condition, the Navy has installed the JPALS on the Portaelicopteri, a precision approach system used in naval operations with aircraft.
With this delivery, Japan regains a significant role in the scenario of the embarked aviation, marking a rebirth of the Japanese aircraft era after decades of absence of this type of ship in the fleet.
FOnte e Immagini: X @Jasdf_pao_eng, @theF35JPO, Militarnyi.com. This content was created with the help of the AI and reviewed by the editorial staff.
