A British F-35 pilot, Lieutenant Commander Baker, recently made history by landing on a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) platform, marking the first time an F-35 operated by a UK pilot has touched down on a Japanese vessel.

This milestone landing was conducted as part of Lt. Cmdr Baker’s role with the U.S. Patuxent River Integrated Test Force.

The landing comes amid Japan’s ongoing efforts to integrate the F-35B stealth fighter into its naval capabilities. Japan has modified its Izumo-class helicopter carriers to support the F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant, as it works to expand its maritime air power in the region.

Earlier this year, Japanese military officers observed F-35B operations onboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, as Japan prepares for similar tests on its own vessels in the coming year.

HMS Prince of Wales recently completed extensive F-35 trials along the U.S. East Coast, which included nearly 150 short takeoffs, multiple vertical landings, and close to 60 shipborne rolling vertical landings during the Developmental Test Phase 3 (DT-3).

“The test points achieved will not only improve UK F-35B operations, but those of our F-35B program partners and allies as well,” noted Captain Richard Hewitt, commanding officer of HMS Prince of Wales, highlighting the broader benefits of these trials for F-35-operating nations.

Japan, which is acquiring a mixed fleet of 147 F-35A and F-35B jets, is now the largest international customer of the F-35. Lockheed Martin, the jet’s manufacturer, commented on the strategic value of this partnership, stating, “The growing synergy among F-35 operators is boosting allied deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, where Japan is acquiring more F-35s than any other international customer.”

Royal Navy Lt. Commander Roderick Royce, who hosted the Japanese delegation’s visit to HMS Prince of Wales, expressed optimism, in a mews release at the time, for future collaboration. “Hopefully it is the first of many such engagements which might one day lead to full interoperability between our respective carrier strike groups,” he said, envisioning a possible scenario in which a Japanese F-35B could one day land on a UK carrier.


At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!

Avatar photo
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
11 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ron
Ron
2 hours ago

Several points of interest in the article. 60 rolling landings carried out. Not much has been said about this and in my opinion this is an important method to be able to return to the carrier with a heavier load. Question I know that HMS PoW has her deck landing lights installed ( I have forgotten the name), does HMS QE have them? Are they required for the roling landing method? If they are required and HMS QE does not have them when will she? Are pilots being trained in this landing method or is there some software to be… Read more »

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 hour ago
Reply to  Ron

Yes, the Bedford array is required for SVRL. QE may have had hers installed during the prop shaft coupling docking. It was used as an opportunity to do other works. Very little information has been released about that capability insertion period. Given the level of war mongering going on I don’t expect that we will be getting much other than stating the obvious that you could see with binos from a hotel room overlooking! That said I think you’d see the Bedford array with visual observation if you knew what you were looking for. But you’d need to know what… Read more »

Bill
Bill
1 hour ago
Reply to  Ron

I agree. Good points that make sense. I do hope Labour are not going to use the excuse of yet another Defence Review ‘to cut’ when we are in extreme danger from Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and various terrorist factions.

Peter S
Peter S
39 minutes ago
Reply to  Ron

Remember why UK opted F35 so early in its development. The commitment in the 1998 defence review to expeditionary capability meant new carriers. To allow for a surge of sortie rates to US carrier levels and give the ability to operate aircraft not only from carriers but improvised austere runways, a STOVL successor to Harrier was needed. The plan was a one for one replacement for the joint force Harrier fleet@138. A logical and seemingly low risk approach, rather spoilt by LMs failure to deliver the affordable successor envisaged. For no compelling reason, Cameron wanted a switch to CATOBAR but… Read more »

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 hour ago

@George is a mews release given by the ship’s cat?

Last edited 1 hour ago by Supportive Bloke
Peter S
Peter S
1 hour ago

Mm. Japanese strike aircraft, HMS Prince of Wales. What could possibly go wrong?

John Clark
John Clark
49 minutes ago
Reply to  Peter S

Now that rings a bell, give me a minute, I’m sure the torpedo will drop soon….

I wonder when the last FAA pilot ‘lined up’ on a Japanese warship🤔🤔.

All joking aside, I hope we see far more cross deck training with the Italian and Japanese Carriers in the future.

It makes a lot of sense, by example, that the UK F35B force become well equated with the Italian Carrier, in an emergency, we could rapidly deploy a number of jets directly to her deck to reinforce a NATO Mediterranean operation.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
6 seconds ago
Reply to  John Clark

Indeed you can forward position a carrier and then fly the frames out to it. Or use a carrier that happens to be where you need it without waiting weeks to get one in theatre.

However, the have a fraction of the capability of QEC as F35B is really big and you won’t get that many on board before the game of Tetris starts to dominate the logistical shuffle.

Charles Verrier
Charles Verrier
42 minutes ago

Although there’s a long history of Japanese aircraft ‘landing’ on the deck of RN carriers…

G DAVIES
G DAVIES
12 minutes ago

Excuse my ignorance but can a F35B land on any carrier, meaning US, Italian or Japanese?

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 minutes ago
Reply to  G DAVIES

It can land on any ship with the correct heat proof treatments to the deck.

So yes UK F35B could potentially land on Italian, Japanese, USMC or even the big USN flat tops some of which already have water cooled deck patches for static engine tests.