Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has carried out its first test landing of fighter jet on its largest destroyer, the Kaga. The vessel has been modified into a de facto aircraft carrier.
The defense ministry plans to carry out two major modifications of the destroyer to allow Air Self-Defense Force F-35B stealth fighter jets to take off and land. The initial stage of remodeling was completed in March.
On Sunday afternoon, the first test landing of a US Military F-35B aircraft was carried out in waters off the US West Coast.
The MSDF released four photos on the social media platform X, displaying the aircraft vertically landing on the flight deck, and the jet being secured on the deck after landing.
The tests are to be carried out till mid-November.
Kaga will undergo a second phase of modification work, including changes to an interior section inside the ship’s body. The alterations are to be completed in several years.
The defense ministry conducted landing and takeoff tests in 2021 with the F-35B on another destroyer of the same class, the Izumo, after the vessel’s first refitting.
The Japanese government says F-35B fighter jets will not be deployed full-time on the Izumo and the Kaga, so they will not be considered attack aircraft carriers, which are forbidden under Japan’s Constitution.