Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Izumo-class helicopter destroyer JS Kaga (DDH 184) transits the South China Sea, during operations with U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Haydn N. Smith)
Japan’s military is making moves that will put it in the big leagues of naval aviation. Later this year, the Izumo-class carrier Kaga will head to the waters off California for F-35B Lightning II tests, a crucial step in Japan’s plan to fully integrate these advanced fighters into its fleet. The trials, set for October through November, mark a milestone for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as it increases spending and transforms two former helicopter destroyers —Kaga and its sister ship Izumo—into F-35B-capable carriers.
The conversion is part of a broader modernization strategy, reflecting Japan’s growing emphasis on defense capabilities. The JMSDF has been busy reworking the ships’ flight decks, and now Kaga is set for its big test. The trials are expected to inform the final tweaks needed to complete the ships’ transformation by 2026.
JMSDF has also been working with other carrier nations, including Italy and the United Kingdom, to learn best practices for operating the F-35 at sea.
Meanwhile, geopolitics remain tense in the Pacific. According to USNI news , U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo had a video call with China’s PLA Southern Theater Commander Gen. Wu Yanan. It’s the first contact between the two since China froze military communications in 2022. This conversation, part of a diplomatic thaw after talks between President Biden and President Xi, signals an attempt to lower the temperature in a region where missteps could lead to conflict. Additionally, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a conference call with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in April, which was followed by an in-person meeting at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
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