Six senior Japanese officers have observed F-35 operations aboard HMS Prince of Wales.
This, say the Royal Navy here, is a crucial step in aiding the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force to introduce the sophisticated jet into service within the next year.
The visiting delegation was present for two weeks of stealth fighter trials conducted off the coast of the USA. These trials are instrumental for Japan as it modifies its Izumo-class helicopter carriers to operate the F-35B jets, mirroring the capabilities of the UK’s carriers.
Captain Sato Tsuyoshi, the lead of the Izumo-class special modification programme, and his team were provided a comprehensive view of the operations.
“To see what’s in store – and to learn about the ever-growing capabilities of fifth-generation carrier strike operations,” the captain was quoted in the press release saying.
HMS Prince of Wales is currently undertaking the third phase of Development Test 3, aiming to extend operating limits and increase sortie rates for the F-35 jets. This phase follows the successful completion of the first two phases by HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The initiative underscores a decade-long development of a closer working relationship between the two navies, highlighted by frequent visits of Royal Navy vessels to Japan and tripartite naval agreements involving the UK, USA, and Japan.
Oh dear. It’s not like any bad happened the last time Japan observed aircraft operations😂😂😂😂😂
Hopefully everyone learned some useful stuff from each other. Allies can all learn a lot from each other.
Very much so…….two major users of Bravo type……I can see them cross decking.
It gives a whole other angle to deal with Chinese and NK aggression…..and another flat top….
Does the FAA still field Swordfish like at taranto? Oops
As the Italian F35Bs are now qualified for deck landing and take-offs from their Cavour. It can only be a matter of time before they are invited to have a play with our carriers.
Would love to see joint ops with Cavour operating an FAA sqn and QE/PWLS and Italian Airforce/Navy Sqn.
It is the completely unique opportunity that the F35B brings is almost seamless cross decking of allies..
All the way with cooperation for other F35B users maybe that’s why France is calling for an EU carrier ?
Sir,are you mocking such a wonderful, versatile,naval aircraft,…..pistols at dawn.
No sir ,they may have been “string bags” but those little biplanes crippled the Bismark as well along with showing the Japanese harbour tactics whoops
When I last looked, they were rather large biplanes.
Ten feet larger than a Spitfire in both wingspan and length.
Good divebombers.
Yes Matt that’s Probably why they were always ranged on deck rather than down in the hanger unless being fully serviced
There’s a good phot, which I can’t find,of a Swordfish on the flightdeck aft commissioning the last ArkRoyal (85)🤪👍
Thanks DH probably now back at Yeovilton enjoying retirement
Hi MS, on a slant,any buzzes on the S.Korean carriers developments. Haven’t heard much for a while.?🤔
Not really mirroring QE capabilities- as far as I can tell they currently have no plans to fit a ski-jump, in which case something like an America class would be a better model for Japanese carrier aviation. I also get the impression that the forward lift intrudes onto the ‘runway’ area of the deck (like on the Invincible class), which suggests one lift is out of action during fixed-wing flight operations.
Correct on a Fwd centre line lift Invincible class locked theirs up when at flying stations bit of a chocolate fireguard in the design department at least the old Ark and Hermes had side lifts in the 18months I served on the Invincible the Fwd lift was never lowered
Hermes tick, Ark nope. Not that I noticed. 😉
My mistake there on the Audacious class Ark her angled flight deck would have put a stop tòo a fwd side lift DH
True, but adding a ramp to a ship design that wasn’t designed for it is a major task.
And bear in mind that the Izumo Class wasn’t designed to be an aircraft carrier, or rather at least have plausible deniability about being one.
It’s not that big a task, certainly not compared to many other refits, since it’s litterally just a ramp. Hermes went through the refit pretty painlessly
But with Helicopter Destroyers and LPH’s there’s the issue that a Ramp means that there’s less deck space for helicopters. If you put one on Kaga or Izumo you’d loose the forward helicopter landing spots. So it’s a balance. Do you want a higher sortie generation for rotary assets, or better launch characteristics for your F-35s?
Tams , I wonder how much ramps added to the cost of the Invincible class throughdeck Cruisers??🤔
Whilst serving on the London DLG in refit 79 watched Invincible in 5 Dock being fitted with the Ramp internal bulkheads were strengthened beneath the Flightdeck where the Ramp sat the Dockies took the work as just another job done and dusted maybe their overtime put the cost up DH
But they are already planning to square-off the bow
So important to support and collaborate with the defence forces of sovereign democratic nations around the world and especially in the Pacific.
Great to build tri-service relationships sea air and amphibious.
#tempest
#fonops
Kind of ironic that it has taken place on the PoW………history moves in mysterious ways………
Can imagine a “Sir, are you sure that’s a landing run, he’s coming in rather fast…?” scenario
LMAO…….. sir, arn’t they supposed to approach from the rear……….?
Not so sure about that given news of backwards landing by F35.
“Sir, I know SRVL means they can land with bombs carried still, but that looks a bit… extreme?”
I don’t think the Navy has used “task force Z ” prefix since that infamous 10 Dec loss Chris
Me Uncle must be rotating in his box,he was sunk and captured off the Repulse beside the PoWls.Japanese pow for years. Hated them with passion++. That was always a fierce conversation. Bless him.
Tommo,your right,not one of the RNs cleverest decisions sadly🧐
My thoughts for your Uncle DH
TVM shipwreck.⭐👍
So when will we start properly participating in RimPac again ?
Shades of 1895 !
Not a dissimilar enemy, either.