Japan re-enters the aircraft carrier era, #miltary #izumo #jskaga #aircraftcarrier, MASA Military

Japan's helicopter destroyer Kaga has completed its carrier conversion and recently started sea trials. It is expected to arrive on the U.S. East Coast next year to undergo a series of F-35B installation tests. The two Izumo-class carriers, the Kaga and the Izumo, have been converted into light aircraft carriers. And so the Japanese Navy has re-entered the era of aircraft carriers. Today, let's discuss the Kaga light carrier and compare it with China's Shandong carrier.

Kaga is the second ship of the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, commissioned in February 2017. The Izumo-class is the second generation of helicopter carriers for Japan, with a length of 814 ft, width of 125 ft, standard displacement of 19,500 tons, and full-load displacement of 27,000 tons. It is equipped with four General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines, providing a maximum speed of 30 knots.

In December 2018, the Japanese government revised its defense plan, confirming the purchase of 42 U.S. F-35B fighters and the carrier conversion of two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers.