Japan’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Heads To California For F-35B Flight Trials

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has announced that its helicopter carrier, JS Kaga (DDH 184), will conduct operational tests with Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft off the coast of San Diego, California, from October 5 to November 18, 2024.

The operational tests will involve an F-35B fighter aircraft from the United States Marine Corps, which will focus on short takeoff, vertical landing, and flight operations from the Kaga.

The trials will use the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), which was developed by the US Navy and Raytheon.

JPALS is an all-weather system that uses GPS and inertial navigation to guide aircraft safely and accurately during landings.

The tests are part of the JMSDF’s Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 (IPD24) and will also involve around 20 members of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.

The Kaga is being converted into a fully functional aircraft carrier to support F-35B operations.

The conversion is crucial to strengthening deterrence against China’s military activity in the East, South, and Pacific Oceans.

The Kaga’s bow has recently been modified into a rectangular shape, and its deck has been enhanced to withstand the intense heat generated by aircraft landings.

The Izumo-class helicopter carriers, JS Izumo and JS Kaga, are undergoing major upgrades to prepare for F-35B operations.

The Izumo is currently in its second modification phase, which includes converting the flight deck’s bow portion from a trapezoid to a square shape, similar to the modifications completed on the Kaga.

These upgrades are part of a modernization initiative. The Izumo conversion will be finished by fiscal year 2027, and the Kaga by fiscal year 2028. Both carriers are 248 meters long and have a standard displacement of 19,500 tons.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has yet to receive its F-35Bs developed in the United States. The first delivery is scheduled for the end of fiscal year 2024.

Japan plans to acquire 42 F-35Bs and deploy them at the JASDF’s Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture. The base will host a temporary F-35B Squadron for this fiscal year.

Japan aims to improve its naval aviation capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific. Recent diplomatic initiatives, such as a video call between US Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo and China’s PLA Southern Theater Commander Gen. Wu Yanan, reflect continued efforts to control regional tensions.

Reference: USNI

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