Here Comes Japan's Aircraft Carriers

The Izumo and the Kaga, Japan’s Helicopter carriers Newsline

Robert Farley, The Diplomat: Here Come Japan’s Aircraft Carriers

The modification of the Izumos will upend nearly seven decades of defense thinking in Japan, and across East Asia.

In a few short years, Japan will have its first real aircraft carriers since World War II. The modification of JS Izumo and JS Kaga to carry the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter will upend, or at least update, nearly seven decades of defense thinking in Japan, and across East Asia. The combination of the Izumos with the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter and the MV-22 Osprey transport may herald Japan’s return to serious naval competition in East Asia, with reverberations in South Korea, China, and the United States. It may also fundamentally change the identity and culture of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the rest of the Japanese armed forces.

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WNU Editor: As for building even bigger aircraft carriers, the only thing that is stopping Japan right now are political concerns .... The Only Thing Stopping Japan from Being an Aircraft Carrier Superpower (Robert Farley, National Interest).