When it comes to Japan, a developed country in Asia, many people may be familiar with it. Anyone who understands knows that Japan was once a famous "fascist country" during the Second World War. Of course, it was also because of World War II that Japan's comprehensive national strength plummeted. However, because the country is backed by the big tree of the United States, it has felt like a "resurgence" in recent years.
What I didn’t expect was that Japan has made big moves in recent times. According to previous media reports, Japan will usher in its second aircraft carrier within two years, the sister ship Kaga of the Izumo. Although Japan has previously referred to the Izumo and Kaga as helicopter destroyers, anyone with a discerning eye knows that both the Izumo and the Kaga have reached the level of "quasi-aircraft carriers".
It's just because of relevant treaties that Japan absolutely cannot recognize Izumo and Kaga as aircraft carriers. According to information disclosed by Japan, the Kaga had already entered the dock for renovation and upgrade in March. If the improvement work proceeds smoothly, sea trials will be launched early next year at the latest.
You must know that the Kaga's transformation and upgrade are fundamentally different from the Izumo. Because the Kaga will be equipped with a larger flight deck, and high-temperature resistant materials will also be laid on the deck surface. Therefore, after the transformation is completed, the Kaga can fully meet the take-off and landing of F-35B.
At the same time, in order to be able to carry more carrier-based aircraft , the Kaga will also dismantle a large number of self-defense weapons. This means that the number of carrier-based aircraft carried by the Kaga will definitely increase compared with the Izumo. . According to information previously announced by Japan, the Kaga can carry a total of 28 carrier-based aircraft, including 12 F-35B, 8 MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft, and 8 MH-60 Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters.
According to this, Japan’s Izumo has previously completed the F-35B takeoff and landing test. It can be seen from the tests at that time that the Izumo can fully undertake the take-off and landing tasks of the F-35B. Nowadays, the ultimate goal of upgrading the Kaga is to make the Kaga directly enter the aircraft carrier sequence from the previous "quasi-aircraft carrier".
In other words, when Japan decided to import F-35A, it also imported F-35B, which was actually to prepare for the future Kaga. This also indirectly exposed Japan's ambitions. The country has never chosen to stay on its own terms, let alone call its own army the Self-Defense Forces.
Of course, if the Japanese Kaga is successfully commissioned, according to the future strength of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, even the five permanent powers such as Britain and France will feel inferior to the former. More importantly, Japan's move also shows that aircraft carriers in Asia seem to have started a "dumpling" mode in recent times.
In addition to Japan's plan to upgrade the Kaga, India's domestic aircraft carrier has been painted with the hull number and . According to the news announced by the country's media, it will be put into service next month. Judging from this development rate, aircraft carriers, this "behemoth" on the sea, can often be seen in Asian waters. I wonder how Western countries would feel when faced with this situation? Will you feel a huge crisis?
(Text/Huaqiang)
