How the world has changed:
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THE PENTAGON – Officials in Tokyo have requested Marines deploy F-35B fighters aboard Japan’s largest warships, a U.S. defense official confirmed to USNI News on Friday.

The service is now studying the feasibility of deploying short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) fighters from JS Izumo (DDH-183) and JS Kaga (DDH-184), Japan’s 24,000-ton big deck amphibious.

The warships were originally designed to field a fleet of anti-submarine warfare helicopters and respond to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. However, in December Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a move to convert the two ships to field the STOVL F-35s in parallel with Japan’s purchase of 42 F-35Bs, reported The Diplomat.

In March, the Abe government asked then-Marine commandant Gen. Robert Neller if the U.S. would consider deploying Marine F-35Bs from Izumo and Kaga, reported The Asahi Shimbun earlier this week.

Prompted by the request, the Marines are now standing up groups to determine the technical feasibility of deploying U.S. F-35s from the two ships ahead of the Japanese Self-Defense Force F-35Bs being fielded.

While the two ships were built with an eye toward STOVL fighter operations, the U.S. has to make an independent determination if their F-35s can operate on Izumo and Kaga.

In context of China’s unlimited expansionist philosophy of late, this is a very interesting development.

Would give the Japanese the chance to practice carrier ops while awaiting their own F35s, plus allow for greater availability of US forces in the region. Win-win.

AND, it will annoy the NorKs and ChiComms. Win/win/win/win.

Very interesting.
Apparently Japan sees the threats from NK and China as a serious issue for them. I’m hoping we can help them out.

Hey Japan - Can I make a serious suggestion?

https://macross.fandom.com/wiki/Variable_Fighter

At this point, we should stand-up a Fleet Replacement detachment just for ally partners. With Japan now onboard with F-35's is Australia going to reconsider purchasing the B-model.

Now, if only JP and ROK can patch things up and not get side-tracked.

Times change. One of the ship's namesake, the Kaga lead the force against Pearl Harbor and Midway. Now they are flying US Marines.

If only my wife's grandfather, a Marine in WW2, lived to see this day. Missed it by about three years.

Does anyone actually think China or North Korea will invade Japan in the next 100 years?

We should give the Japanese any recently moth balled carriers. They need to become a military might in the region at least defensively.

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Originally posted by bubbatime:
Does anyone actually think China or North Korea will invade Japan in the next 100 years?

No, but I think China will try to take possession of the disputed islands.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Does anyone actually think China or North Korea will invade Japan in the next 100 years?

Humans have a LOUSY track record with predicting "The Next War.". .

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
We should give the Japanese any recently moth balled carriers. They need to become a military might in the region at least defensively.

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution prohibits "offensive weapons" commonly interpreted to include aircraft carriers.

That is why their current carriers are officially helicopter carriers.

Hosting a foreign nation's air assets on their "helicopter" carriers is a half measure that for the moment, could give the JMSDF some prestige and teeth (though, how much is questionable, given the fact any Marine detachment will still be under US control) while sidestepping any domestic constitutional challenges. China and Russia will, of course, see this as an "escalation" but they don't have standing to challenge Abe under the Japanese Constitution. My guess is that it's Abe's way of normalizing the presence of F-35bs on Japanese carriers, and gets the JMSDF experience should Abe, at some point become powerful enough to amend or reinterpret their constitution.

With China driving the Liaoning around the Western Pacific, I would be surprised if the JMSDF hasn't been doing a lot of existential self-debating for a while. Japan hasn't had fixed wing carrier capability since 1945. Technically, the Chinese are ahead of them, and that has to smart a little, coming from the nation that fondly remembers the Kido Butai.

At some point, the Marines will go home, and suddenly the JMSDF will be left with a large capability "hole" that will naturally be filled by Japanese-flown F-35bs.

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Originally posted by Veeper:
Hey Japan - Can I make a serious suggestion?

https://macross.fandom.com/wiki/Variable_Fighter

Fuck yes.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by corsair:
<snip> is Australia going to reconsider purchasing the B-model.

Aussies have signed to buy 72 F-35A Lightning II. First to go into service in 2020.

There are several F-35A fifth gen undergoing trial and updates (@ Luke AF). Australia was the first partner to get F-35 with Block3F capability unlocked.'

How would a Japanese ship be with air traffic control communication to an American pilot?

I'm sure they have someone who speaks English, but do Japanese ATCs learn some sort of standard lingo, or do they have their own that the Marines would need to learn?

No better friend, No worse enemy.

Especially interesting from a historical perspective. The Old IJN Kaga was a carrier involved in the Pearl Harbor attack, and 6 months later dive bombers from VB-6 put her on the bottom at Midway.

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Originally posted by bubbatime:
Does anyone actually think China or North Korea will invade Japan in the next 100 years?

Japan has a handful of islands that the ChiComs have been eye-balling to retake, seeing how many islands they've 'reclaimed' and built-up into bases, having some mobile fixed wing capability, will allow them to at least counter any attempts. We should be applauding an allied nation that's actually stepping-up and investing into their share of the defense load, unlike many NATO members, the Asian nations are actually giving a damn.

quote:

Originally posted by car541:
No better friend, No worse enemy.

Especially interesting from a historical perspective. The Old IJN Kaga was a carrier involved in the Pearl Harbor attack, and 6 months later dive bombers from VB-6 put her on the bottom at Midway.

Yeah, I like the History. I've always been disappointed they didn't name one of those *cough* carriers *cough* the Akagi. . .

They have Ise, Huyuga (both were battleships that were MacGuyvered into really bad seaplane carriers), and Kaga (as stated, named after one of the 'big 6' of the WWII Kido Butai that attacked Pearl). Of course, the Akagi was basically the equivalent to their USS Enterprise. Maybe they are saving the name for a 'real' (fixed-wing capable) carrier. I think it is long past time that they ditch the 'self-defense' clause and get real carriers in play again.

Would not a stationing nuclear subs be much a more powerful deterrent response to N.Korea/China in event of a hostile attack on Japan? If missle happy N. Korea missiles ever fell short and stuck Japan, would firing missiles back be more appropriate or no? Although I do kinda remember a lot of protests about US Naval Ships (Nuclear) being sent to port there.