Japan Conducts First Tests of F-35B Jet on Aircraft Carrier JS Kaga. X @JMSDF_PAO
Stunning images recently released show the stealth fighter F-35B performing landings and takeoffs on the deck of the JS Kaga, Japan’s first aircraft carrier to be operated since World War II.
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The JS Kaga, which began its testing in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the coast of California, was originally constructed as a multifunctional destroyer of the Izumo class, designed to carry helicopters. However, it has been modified to operate fixed-wing aircraft like the F-35B.
The Kaga’s refit was completed in April this year, enabling the ship, which measures just over 240 meters and weighs about 24,000 tons, to conduct operations with the F-35B stealth fighter, a short takeoff and landing aircraft built for carrier operations. Smaller than the modern U.S. Nimitz-class carriers, which displace over 100,000 tons and measure over 330 meters, the JS Kaga represents a new capability for Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The name “Kaga” honors an ancient Japanese province and recalls the historical Japanese aircraft carrier that participated in the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. This new era for Japan arrives amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, as the country expands its naval capabilities to enhance regional security.
The U.S. Department of Defense released a statement last month highlighting that the JS Kaga “conducted fixed-wing aircraft operations” in preparation for future missions. On October 21, a significant milestone was achieved when a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B successfully landed on the newly converted carrier, confirming Kaga’s operational capability.
With this modernization, Japan aims to strengthen its naval fleet in a strategic alliance with the United States, advancing in the use of cutting-edge military technology to maintain balance in the Pacific.
Source and photos: X @JMSDF_PAO. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
