Japan Completes Aircraft Carrier Conversion of 'Kaga'; Flight Tests Scheduled in the US Next Month

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced on the 10th that it will dispatch the escort ship "Kaga," which has been converted into an aircraft carrier, to the United States next month to conduct takeoff and landing tests of carrier-based aircraft.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ship "Kaga" being converted into an aircraft carrier / Photo by Yonhap News

The Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to dispatch Kaga to the waters off San Diego, California, from November 5 to November 18, using the U.S. military's vertical takeoff and landing stealth aircraft F-35B to conduct takeoff and landing tests and carrier operations. Through this, they intend to check the condition of the heat-resistant deck of the modified Kaga.

The Japanese government announced in March this year that it had completed the first phase of repair work to effectively convert Kaga into an aircraft carrier. The Ministry of Defense reinforced the deck's heat resistance to allow F-35B takeoff and landing on Kaga and changed the bow to a rectangular shape.

The Japanese government is also working on converting another escort ship, "Izumo," into an aircraft carrier alongside Kaga. The heat resistance reinforcement of Izumo's deck has been completed, and the bow shape is being modified.

Japan, mindful of China's increasing maritime activities, has been working on converting the two large escort ships capable of carrying helicopters, Kaga and Izumo, into aircraft carriers capable of operating fighter jets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.