Japan ponders use of helicopter carrier for stealth fighters

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera dropped a bombshell admission March 2 by saying he authorized studies into whether advanced F-35B stealth fighter jets can be deployed on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo helicopter carrier.

Such activity would fly in the face of war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution that prohibits Japan from maintaining more than the bare minimum to protect itself. Aware of the political ramifications of his comment in the Upper House Budget Committee session, Onodera added, "No decision has yet been made about whether the F-35B will actually be attached to the Izumo."

The Izumo is the largest vessel in the MSDF fleet and any move to refit it into an aircraft carrier would face an uproar from the opposition parties.

Akira Koike of the Japanese Communist Party called Onodera's comment "an important admission" in light of the government's past refusal to possess an aircraft carrier due to the nation's exclusively defensive posture. "But he (Onodera) is now saying consideration is being given to fundamentally change the posture of the nation," Koike said.

The U.S.-made F-35B is the most advanced stealth fighter jet and unlike the F-35A now used by the Air SDF, it can take off from a short runway and also land vertically like a helicopter.

In the Upper House Budget Committee session, Onodera said, "Regarding the Izumo, research has been conducted on which among the latest aircraft could possibly take off and land on it. The most representative aircraft is the F-35B. (The research) is intended to accumulate fundamental information regardless of the conclusion reached in the future." But he stopped short of stating whether the Constitution banned the possession of any aircraft carrier. He would only say "attack" aircraft carriers that had many aircraft capable of loads with extreme destructive power or anti-land attack capabilities would not be allowed.

Hey! We could lend them our F-35B's - just as we're "helping" Qatar with Typhoons.................

Don’t be ridiculous. He’s obviously referring to Stralia. :E

:D Genius. Who would ever underestimate the Japanese ........ again.

yeah but they probably just went out and bought it - no 5 year in depth study of paint as opposed to wallpaper as opposed to mirror tiles..........................

Izumo's Fleet visit to Pearl Harbor, replete with a deck-full of fighter-bombers and torpedo-carrying helicopters, will be an interesting photo-op!

Izumo and Kaga are closer in size to the new Italian and Spanish (and Australian) 'carriers' than the Hyguas, but without the amphibious encumberances those have; and although about 10k tonnes smaller, their flight deck dimensions are not that different to the US America class, so she should be well able to operate F35s.

The lack of a ski jump could be easily dealt with on refit if felt required, as it was with Hermes and Vikrant in the early 80s

Just to note - the original ski-jump on 'Invincible' was fitted alongside in about 10 weeks, and didn't require a full refit. All depends on how big a jump and how far forward they want to install one, in my view. Invincible's first ramp was limited by the Seadart launcher located centreline forward - I can't see any obvious problem for 'Izumo' or 'Kaga', apart from a Phalanx CIWS located on the flight deck right forward starboard side.

Also worth noting that the maximum effective angle for a ski-jump with F-35B is less than that required for a Harrier, so the size of the ramp should be slightly smaller. Width required is about the same as for a Harrier.

Hope this helps,

Engines

I'd forgotten Invicible launched as a completely flat deck

http://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/wor...-May-1977..jpg

Looks quite similar.

Cross post from the F35 thread to keep this one up to date.

LDP to propose introducing F-35B fighters

Japan's main governing Liberal Democratic Party plans to propose introducing F-35B fighter jets and a multi-purpose aircraft carrier to be operated under the country's defense-only stance.

The government is to review the National Defense Program Guidelines this year for the first time in 5 years. On Tuesday, the LDP panel on national security compiled a set of proposals to be considered. The panel stressed the need to enhance Japan's defense capabilities both in quality and quantity. It said North Korea's nuclear and missile development and China's military buildup and growing maritime presence are creating a security crisis.

The panel will call for procuring a multi-purpose aircraft carrier that can also serve as a hospital ship. It will be operated solely for defense purposes. Retrofitting of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Izumo is to be listed as an option.

The panel also wants the Defense Ministry to acquire advanced F-35B stealth planes, which can take off from short runways. Panel chair Gen Nakatani suggested Japan must become able to hit back at enemy bases.

The LDP plans to submit the proposals to the government for discussion in late May.

Great!! Someone to take over our order..................

I think there is a strong case for offering the PoW to the Japanese as a 'Training Carrier" while we build a new Catobar carrier in Rosyth as a replacement.

better we give them the PoW and get them to build the new CATOBAR carrier...............

Can't we just sell them our Blaircraft carriers?

We don't need them and the money could be well spent on useful stuff like hospitals and schools and libraries and roads and stuff that makes our lives better, instead of making other peoples lives rotten.

Peace dividends are wonderful - until you need to keep the peace.

And some people believe unicorns and garden faeries are real and the moon landings were a hoax. Good luck with that.

Yamean: we could do moon landings and everyfink wiv our Blaircraft carriers?

Gahn! Ya kiddin'. Innya?

Thanks for the good wishes, though.

You could always emigrate to that utopia, where ever it might be.

Germany, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Chile.....................

:ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok: