The United States conducted new joint air operations with Japan by landing four F-35B fighters and a CVM-22B Osprey on the helicopter destroyer JS Kaga during the ANNUALEX 2025 exercise.
The action represented the largest simultaneous presence of F-35Bs on the Japanese ship and marked the first landing of a U.S. Navy CVM-22B on a vessel of this type.
The maneuver integrated a multinational training aimed at strengthening cooperation in anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and maritime communications. About 20 Japanese ships and dozens of aircraft from the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand participated in the operation. The fighters involved belonged to VMFA-242, supported by teams from USS Tripoli.
JS Kaga is undergoing a two-phase modernization to permanently operate the F-35B, including flight deck modifications and future internal upgrades. The adaptation follows Japan’s strategy to strengthen its embarked air capability in response to increasing Chinese military activity in the Pacific. Sister ship JS Izumo is expected to complete similar upgrades by 2028.
Source: Naval News | Photo: X @USPacificFleet | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
