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| Izumo Helicopter Destroyer shortly after launch |
Preparing for a potential conflict with the PLA Navy over the disputed East China Sea, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is ready to commission its most advanced helicopter destroyer, Izumo, on March 25, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.
Developed by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Izumo is the lead ship in its class of helicopter destroyer. It can carry seven anti-submarine warfare helicopters and search-and-rescue helicopters.
With five helipads on the flight deck, five helicopters can take off or land simultaneously. The ship can carry 400 troops and 50 trucks for amphibious operations. The ship has neither a ski-jump nor a catapult to launch fixed-wing aircraft but it can still become a light aircraft carrier after Japan receives F-35 Lighting fighters from the US, which have vertical take-off and landing ability.
Read the full story at Want China Times
PacificSentinel Note: Yes, Japan is buying F-35A Fighters, but these are CTOL (Conventional Take Off & Landing) aircraft, they are NOT buying F-35B's, which are the VTOL (Vertical Take Off & Landing) version for carriers use, this may change in the future, but for now the assumption made in the above story is incorrect.