Japan’s Aircraft Carrier “JS Kaga” to Conduct Operational Trials for F-35B Fighter Jets

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Japan is set to deploy its largest warship, the JS Kaga (DDH-184), to the United States next month for operational testing of the F-35B VSTOL (Vertical Short Take-Off and Landing) fighter jet.

According to a statement from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the tests, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, aim to gather data on the operations of the F-35B fighter jets aboard the Izumo-class helicopter carrier.

 Japan is expected to carry out various trials, including take-offs and landings of the F-35B, as well as other operational assessments while the aircraft is on board the warship.

The operational tests of the F-35B aboard the JS Kaga are scheduled to take place off the coast of California from October 5 to October 18.

While classified as a “helicopter destroyer,” the JS Kaga has undergone modifications to function as a “mini aircraft carrier” to accommodate the operation of Japan’s F-35B fighter jets.

The retrofitting of the Kure Naval Base–based JS Kaga is nearing completion.

In recent years, Tokyo has invested hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to convert two of its helicopter destroyers, JS Kaga and JS Izumo (DDH-183), into mini aircraft carriers, part of Japan’s efforts to address rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing assertiveness.

Once the modifications to the JS Kaga and JS Izumo are completed, Japan will, for the first time since the end of World War II, possess its own aircraft carriers.

Both warships are designed to operate F-35B fighter jets, which are capable of vertical take-offs and landings as well as short runway operations.

 Each ship weighs approximately 27,000 tons.

Japan made the decision to modify the two vessels in 2018. The first phase of retrofitting the JS Izumo, costing $30 million (RM120 million), has already been completed, with further modifications underway.

In October 2021, two F-35B STOVL fighter jets from the U.S. Marine Corps conducted flight and landing tests aboard the JS Izumo.

Japan has ordered 105 F-35 fighter jets for its air force, 40 of which are the F-35B VSTOL variant.

Japan’s decision to convert the JS Izumo and its sister ship, the JS Kaga, from helicopter destroyers to mini aircraft carriers has been met with disapproval from China, which has expressed concerns that Tokyo harbors ambitions of reviving its military power, reminiscent of its World War II-era status.

Beijing has previously voiced unease over Japan’s plans and urged Tokyo to abandon the modifications.

Both Izumo-class vessels, JS Izumo and JS Kaga, are valued at over $1 billion each and were commissioned into the JMSDF in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

Initially, their primary missions were to carry helicopters for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), humanitarian missions, and surveillance operations. — DSA