JS Izumo explained

JS Izumo (DDH-183) is a helicopter carrier which, as of 2022, is being converted into a light aircraft carrier. Officially classified as a multi-purpose operation destroyer, she is the lead ship in the of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). She is the second warship to be named for Izumo Province, with the previous ship being the armored cruiser (1898).

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party announced in May 2018 that it favours converting Izumo to operate fixed-wing aircraft.[1] The conversion was confirmed in December 2018 when Japan announced the change of its defense guidelines. Upon the completion of the process, Izumo will be the first Japanese naval vessel to operate fixed-wing aircraft since World War II.[2]

Design and construction

The construction of the first ship of the Izumo class began in 2011 at an IHI Marine United shipyard in Yokohama,[3] with funding totalling 113.9 billion yen ($1.5 billion) being set aside in the fiscal 2010 budget for this purpose. The destroyers of this class were initially intended to replace the two ships of the, which were originally scheduled to begin decommissioning in FY2014.[4]

Izumo, the largest Japanese naval vessel since World War II, was laid down on 27 January 2012 and launched on 6 August 2013.[5] [6] The ship began sea trials on 29 September 2014.[7] The ship was commissioned on 25 March 2015.[8]

The ship is as large as a Japanese carrier of Second World War-era.[9] Izumo is called a destroyer because the Japanese constitution forbids the acquisition of offensive weapons, but the vessel allows Japan to project military power well beyond its territorial waters.[9]

Characteristics

Aircraft carried

The ship can carry up to 28 aircraft, or 14 larger aircraft.[10] Only seven ASW helicopters and two SAR helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5-ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has five helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings and take-offs.

In 2010, Forecast International reported that some design features were intended to support fixed-wing aircraft such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II;[11] although neither the Ministry of Defense nor the JMSDF have mentioned the possibility of introducing fixed-wing aircraft. The ship has neither a "ski-jump" nor a catapult, typical features for launching fixed-wing aircraft.[12] If Izumo-class ships were to operate fixed-wing aircraft, they would be limited to STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) aircraft. Japan has purchased the conventional version of the Lightning II (the F-35A) but may buy the STOVL version (the F-35B) which could be operated from a modified Izumo-class ship.[13] In December 2018, it was announced that the Japanese government would change its defense guidelines and purchase 42 F-35B fighters to operate them from both Izumo and her sister ship .[14] [15]

Air defense

The ship is equipped with two Phalanx CIWS and two SeaRAM for her defense.

Operational history

Commissioned at Yokosuka port in Japan in March 2015, Izumo became operational in time to take part in a major August 2015 disaster drill conducted in Tokyo, alongside the Japan Coast Guard's large patrol vessel Izu. The two vessels acted as casualty receiving and triage stations during the exercise.[16]

In May 2017 Izumo was deployed to escort, a US supply vessel, to the area off Shikoku. Richard E. Byrds mission was to refuel another US warship that was defending against North Korean missiles. This was the first time a Japanese vessel was deployed to escort a US ship since security legislation was enacted in March 2016. A small protest took place at Yokosuka after Izumos departure, under the belief that the deployment of an aircraft carrier was a violation of Japan's defense-only policy.[17] [18] The destroyer also joined the mission.[19]

In 2020, Izumo began the conversion to operate F-35B fighter aircraft.[20] Conversion works were to proceed in two stages, with the first to strengthen the heat resistance of the deck and install power supply equipment to enable the departure and arrival of the F-35B. The renovation work to change the bow shape to a quadrangle for the safe operation of the F-35B and the maintenance of the interior compartments are scheduled to be carried out in the second stage, starting from the end of 2024. No plans exist to install a catapult or a sloping runway.[21]

In September 2021, JS Izumo joined British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and other vessels for exercises in the Pacific.[22]

In early October of that year, United States Marine Corps F-35B fighters operated off the Izumo for the first time.[23]

On 31 May 2022, the JMSDF announced that the Izumo, the Takanami-class destroyer JS Takanami (DD-110) and the Murasame-class destroyer JS Kirisame (DD104) will be deployed to RIMPAC 2022.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FUJIWARA. SHINICHI. LDP calls for scrapping 1% cap on Japan's defense budget. Asahi Shimbun. ja. 29 May 2018. 3 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191103155531/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201805260034.html. dead.
  2. Web site: Japan unveiled new plans for an F-35 aircraft carrier — and it's a Chinese navy killer. Lockie. Alex. Business Insider. 28 December 2019.
  3. News: 1 April 2011. ＩＨＩ、防衛省からヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を８００億円で受注. ja. Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217135405/http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx0120110401agbx.html. 17 December 2014.
  4. News: Ministry of Defense. Ministry of Defense (Japan). 平成２１年度政策評価書（事前の事業評価）. ja. PDF. Mod.go.jp. 18 September 2011.
  5. Web site: 国内最大のヘリコプター搭載護衛艦の起工式を開催 (Ground-breaking ceremony of the nation's largest helicopter carriers held). Ihi.co.jp. 13 January 2014. ja. 27 January 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120620125930/http://www.ihi.co.jp/ihi/press/2011/2012-1-27/index.html. 20 June 2012.
  6. Web site: Japan unveils new carrier-like warship, largest in navy since WWII. Fox News. 13 January 2014. 6 August 2013.
  7. Web site: Japan puts helicopter carrier Izumo on sea trials. https://web.archive.org/web/20141001025714/http://www.janes.com/article/43775/japan-puts-helicopter-carrier-izumo-on-sea-trials. dead. 1 October 2014. Jane's Information Group. 2 October 2014.
  8. Web site: Japan Commissions Largest-Ever Helicopter Carrier. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144430/http://www.aviationtoday.com/categories/military/Japan-Commissions-Largest-Ever-Helicopter-Carrier_84607.html. dead. 2 April 2015. Aviation Today. 30 March 2015.
  9. News: Kelly. Tim. Kubo. Nobuhiro. Japan plans to send largest warship to South China Sea, sources say. 13 March 2017. Reuters.com. 13 March 2017.
  10. Web site: Hardy . James . Japan commissions helicopter carrier Izumo . Janes.com . 25 March 2015 . 20 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150504021643/http://www.janes.com/article/50196/japan-commissions-helicopter-carrier-izumo . 4 May 2015 .
  11. News: Details of New Japanese 'Helicopter Destroyer' . Forecast International. Defensetalk . 21 June 2010.
  12. Holm, Erik. "Japan launches biggest warship since WW2" (in Danish). Ingeniøren, 12 August 2013. Accessed: 12 August 2013.
  13. http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=11000 Does the Izumo Represent Japan Crossing the "Offensive" Rubicon?
  14. Web site: Yeo . Mike . 1 April 2019 . Asia allies take major steps forward with F-35 rollout . live . https://archive.today/20240122130849/https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/04/01/asia-allies-take-major-steps-forward-with-f-35-rollout/ . 22 January 2024 . 7 August 2022 . Defense News.
  15. Web site: Gady . Franz-Stefan . 1 April 2019 . Japan Air Self Defense Force Stands Up First F-35A Lightning II Fighter Squadron . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405164650/https://thediplomat.com/2019/04/japan-air-self-defense-force-stands-up-first-f-35a-lightning-ii-fighter-squadron/ . 5 April 2023 . The Diplomat.
  16. Web site: Archived copy . 1 September 2015 . 8 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150908055219/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002394804 . dead .
  17. News: . Japan helicopter carrier conducts operation to protect US ships . . 1 May 2017 . 17 May 2017 .
  18. News: Hlvac . Tyler . 1 May 2017 . Japanese helicopter destroyer to escort Navy ship on supply mission . . 17 May 2017 .
  19. News: . SDF completes 1st US warship escort mission . . 4 May 2017 . 18 May 2017 .
  20. Web site: Takahashi. Kosuke. Japan begins refitting first of two Izumo-class carriers to support F-35B operations. 16 April 2021. Jane's Information Group. en.
  21. Web site: 護衛艦「かが」、「いずも」に続き空母へ F35B搭載の改修費231億円要求――スキージャンプ設置せず（高橋浩祐） - Yahoo!ニュース. 5 February 2021. Yahoo!ニュース 個人. ja.
  22. News: Cotterill . Tom . Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth woos the Japanese as she joins major military drill in the Pacific . 3 October 2021 . The News, Portsmouth . 10 September 2021.
  23. News: Mahadzir . Dzirhan . Japan's Largest Warship Launches U.S. Marine F-35s; First Fighters to Fly from Japanese Ship Since WWII . 6 October 2021 . United States Naval Institute . 5 October 2021.
  24. Web site: Japan sending its largest naval vessel to RIMPAC. Yoshihiro. Inaba. Navalnews.com. 1 June 2022. 4 June 2022.

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