First Ever Fighter Jet Lands on Japanese Aircraft Carrier: Joint F-35B Ops with U.S. Marines Planned

<p >The Japanese Izumo Class aircraft Carrier JS Kaga has for the first time accommodated an F-35B fifth generation fighter, which touched down at around 3:15pm off the southern coast of California as part of developmental testing. Japan Maritime Self Defence Force Captain Shusaku Takeuchi stated regarding the landmark in the warship’s development: “This test is essential for strengthening Japan's defence capabilities and is of utmost importance. We will do our best to achieve good test results together with the ITF… This test does not merely enhance the capabilities of the Maritime Self Defence Force. It also improves the interoperability between Japan and the U.S., strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance, thereby contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” The F-35B was developed with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, which allows them to deploy from both <a href=" target="_blank">makeshift airfields </a>and from smaller aircraft carriers such as the Izumo Class, which lack arresting gear seen on larger ships. </p><p ><img src=" title="Izumo Class Carrier"></p><p >Japan currently has 42 F-35Bs on order, which will allow the Maritime Self Defence Force to field full air wings of approximately 14 F-35Bs on both Izumo Class carriers while maintaining remaining fighters under maintenance or on land based deployments. The JS Kaga is the first Japanese aircraft carrier to accommodate fighter aircraft since the end of the Second World War, and the first in history to accommodate a jet fighter. The Izumo Class ships displace 27,000 tons each, and while they were initially referred to as helicopter destroyers they were <a href=" >designed from the outset </a>to be able to deploy F-35Bs. The two ships began refitting to accommodate the fighters in mid-2020. It is notable that the first F-35B was landed by test pilot Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Nick Baker, and that the Izumo Class carriers’ complements initially will not be flown by Japanese sailors or airmen. Instead the U.S. Marine Corps, which also operates the jets from 40,000 ton Wasp Class and America Class carriers, will be <a href=" target="_blank">flying sorties from </a>the Japanese ships. </p>