On the 21st, Kyodo News and others reported that a test was conducted to land the U.S. military's stealth aircraft F-35B on the escort ship Kaga, which Japan is promoting to convert into an aircraft carrier.
A US Navy stealth aircraft F-35B is landing on the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's escort ship Kaga. [Image source=Kaijieitai X]
On the 20th (local time), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced that the U.S. Navy's vertical takeoff and landing stealth aircraft F-35B successfully performed its first vertical landing on Kaga, which was dispatched off the coast of San Diego, California. This is part of the takeoff and landing tests to convert Kaga into an aircraft carrier.
The Self-Defense Forces plan to inspect procedures such as storing the fighter jet in the hangar, refueling, and maintenance with the support of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps until the 18th of next month. In March, Japan carried out repair work on Kaga to enable fighter jets to take off and land, and plans to complete the conversion into an aircraft carrier in a few years after additional repairs, including internal compartment modifications.
Kaga is also the name of a Japanese aircraft carrier that sank during World War II. That carrier was originally built as a battleship but was later converted for use as an aircraft carrier.
Japan is converting the large escort ships Kaga and Izumo, which currently can carry helicopters, into aircraft carriers capable of operating fighter jets to counter China's increased maritime activities. Izumo has also completed its first phase of repair work.
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