The First Aircraft Carrier 'Izumo' Equipped with F-35B

The Izumo-class has a standard displacement of 19,950 tons and boasts the largest size among the warships owned by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Photo by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] The Izumo is a helicopter carrier destroyer operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. A destroyer is a naval warship tasked with escorting other vessels at sea, typically having a displacement of 3,000 to 4,000 tons. However, the Izumo has a standard displacement of 19,950 tons, making it the largest warship in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet.

Two ships have been built, including the lead ship Izumo, and they are characterized by a wide flight deck similar to that of an aircraft carrier. In terms of size, it is comparable to the Yorktown-class aircraft carriers, which were among the main carriers of the U.S. Navy during World War II. Because of this, it is classified overseas as a helicopter carrier or light aircraft carrier. The ship’s name, Izumo, is derived from the armored cruiser Izumo operated by the former Imperial Japanese Navy. The armored cruiser Izumo participated in the Russo-Japanese War and, during the Second Sino-Japanese War in World War II, shelled areas near Shanghai and sank or captured various American and British vessels. For this reason, neighboring China sometimes refers to the Izumo as a symbol of the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

With a full load displacement of 27,000 tons, the Izumo has long been suspected of being capable of operating carrier-based fighter jets. Especially since its length reaches 248 meters, it can easily operate the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter F-35B. The minimum runway length required for the F-35B to take off is known to be 180 meters. However, Japan has consistently denied this. Nevertheless, according to the 2019 Medium-Term Defense Program of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the Izumo is scheduled to be converted into a light aircraft carrier, and 42 F-35B fighters are planned to be introduced. From Japan’s perspective, as Chinese aircraft carriers continue to emerge, converting the Izumo into an aircraft carrier has become an urgent countermeasure.

It is not yet known how many F-35B fighters the modified Izumo will operate. However, according to predictions by Japanese military experts, it is expected to operate about 10 F-35B fighters along with several helicopters. The Izumo can currently carry up to 20 various helicopters. Although it cannot be compared to the large U.S. aircraft carriers, once converted and operational as an aircraft carrier, the Izumo is expected to have a significant impact on us as well. South Korea and Japan had conflicts last year due to threat flights by Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft. Additionally, Japan continues to claim Dokdo as its territory. In particular, light aircraft carriers can exert strong combat power in specific straits or maritime areas where they can receive air force cover, so it is essential for us to have an aircraft carrier capable of responding to this.

The specifications of the Izumo are as follows.

Standard displacement: 19,950 tons / Main dimensions: length 248 m, beam 38 m, depth 23.5 m, draft 7.1 m / Propulsion: 4 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 112,000 PS / Speed: 30 knots / Weapons and equipment: 2 high-performance 20 mm machine guns, 2 anti-ship missile defense systems, 1 torpedo defense system, 1 multipurpose radar, 1 surface radar, 1 sonar system for surface ships, 1 electronic warfare system, 1 information processing system / Crew: approximately 470 personnel