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China-Japan-Koreas
Japan Set to Procure F-35B STOVL Aircraft
2018-11-27
The Japanese government has decided to procure the F35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) stealth fighter aircraft as part of the new defense plan to be outlined next month. This information was reported by Japanese media Nippon News Network (NNN).

The carrier-borne aircraft would be procured to be deployed from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force(JMSDF) two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, JS Izumo and JS Kaga. The two vessels, the largest in the JMSDF fleet with a displacement of 27,000 tons (full load) and a length of 248 meters would be modified in order to accommodate the aircraft.

The first ship in the class, Izumo was launched on 6 August 2013. The ship was commissioned on 25 March 2015. Kaga was commissioned on 22 March 2017. The F35B is a derivative of the F35A already operated by the Japan Air Self Defense Force.
Posted by:Thumper Hupineque1276

#10  P2K: i like what you did with the word ‘submersible’
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2018-11-27 18:06  

#9  Likely the name is pronounced the same but the kanji are different. So the Hawaiian Orchid grower's I know family name is Akagi but not the same as the ship Akagi. Likewise my old landlady was a Kubota but not the same family as the tractor company. This might be the Japanese solution to the "Smith" problem.
Posted by: Thrise Shomble3667   2018-11-27 17:25  

#8  Actually, the name Soryu was taken by a submarine.

Seems they have two submersibles with the name Soryu.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2018-11-27 16:45  

#7  Next they will be weaponizing J-Pop. Hey It worked before.

Posted by: Thrise Shomble3667   2018-11-27 14:00  

#6  A "Bouncing Betty".... how sexist.
Posted by: Besoeker   2018-11-27 13:44  

#5  Can you imagine anyone getting away with calling a USAF plane Enola Gay or Bocks Car today?
Posted by: M. Murcek   2018-11-27 13:19  

#4  Actually, the name Soryu was taken by a submarine.
Posted by: HeavyG   2018-11-27 12:11  

#3  Hehe.... there was talk earlier of replacing the helicopters on the "destroyers" with the F35B and China got its collective knickers in a bunch.

It will be fun to watch them kick and cry over this.

Japan is back in the game.
Posted by: DarthVader   2018-11-27 09:30  

#2  Cause 'destroyers' are defensive and aircraft carriers are 'offensive'. It's the subtleties of the language lost in translation.

JS Izumo and JS Kaga?
...now just add the Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2018-11-27 06:07  

#1  Those are some pretty big "destroyers"
Posted by: Snavimble Bucket1794   2018-11-27 01:05  

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