National / Politics Dec 2, 2019
Japan's next SDF mission to Mideast may include its biggest warships
The next Self-Defense Forces dispatch to the Middle East could get Cabinet approval by the end of the year.
National Nov 19, 2019
Izumo upgrade and planned space unit to further boost Japanese Defense Ministry budget
The work on the Izumo is primarily aimed at reinforcing the heat resistance of its deck to enable landings and takeoffs by F-35B jets.
National Aug 23, 2019
U.S. F-35Bs may conduct takeoff and landing drills on Japan's renovated Izumo carriers
The U.S. military's F-35B fighter jets could use Izumo-class ships for training exercises after the Japanese vessels are renovated to be able to host such aircraft, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Thursday. Takeoff and landing drills using the Japanese helicopter carriers, which are due to ...
National Jun 15, 2019
Japan's Izumo helicopter carrier, destroyer visit Vietnam's strategic Cam Ranh port
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo helicopter carrier and a destroyer arrived at Vietnam's strategic Cam Ranh International Port on Friday in a move seen as highlighting growing the two countries ties amid Chinese moves in the disputed South China Sea. The MSDF ships' visit to ...
National Jun 12, 2019
Japan's largest warship joins U.S. carrier for military exercises in disputed South China Sea
by Jesse Johnson
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo helicopter carrier has joined the United States' sole forward-deployed aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, in joint military exercises in the disputed South China Sea, the MSDF and U.S. 7th Fleet said in separate statements Wednesday. The drills, which included ...
National / Politics May 28, 2019
In symbolic first, Abe and Trump jointly address military personnel aboard Japan's Kaga carrier
by Sakura Murakami
Peppered with pomp and decorum, Trump’s four-day visit to Japan ended with a gesture highlighting the long-standing military ties between the two countries.
National May 9, 2019
by Jesse Johnson
Naval vessels from Japan, the U.S., India and the Philippines have sailed together through the disputed South China Sea in a nearly weeklong multilateral drill amid tensions with China over the strategic waterway. The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo — Japan's largest flat-topped helicopter carrier — ...
National / Politics May 8, 2019
Trump to inspect Japanese helicopter carrier with Abe during state visit later this month
U.S. President Donald Trump will likely board the Kaga, an Izumo-class helicopter carrier docked at a Maritime Self-Defense Force base near Tokyo, when he makes a state visit to Japan in late May, bilateral sources said Wednesday. Accompanied by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump is ...
National / Politics Mar 13, 2019
by Sakura Murakami
Journalists on Wednesday were given a guided tour of the Izumo — Japan's largest flat-topped helicopter carrier — for the first time since the Defense Ministry revealed a controversial plan late last year to convert it so that it could handle fixed-wing aircraft — ...
National Feb 5, 2019
Japan cancels MSDF port call in South Korea amid chilly ties
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it decided to cancel a port call by a helicopter carrier in South Korea this spring as relations between the two countries have been strained over alleged provocative acts by each of their militaries. Several Maritime Self-Defense Force ships including ...
National / Politics Jan 26, 2019
The Defense Ministry plans to cancel a port call by its Izumo helicopter carrier in South Korea this spring amid growing tensions between the two countries over alleged risky moves by each of their militaries, a Japanese government source said Saturday. The Maritime Self-Defense Force ...
National Dec 24, 2018
AWACS aircraft to coordinate with carrier-borne F-35Bs as part of Japan's defense plans: sources
AWACS aircraft would fly from a ground base to conduct surveillance missions in operational areas of the U.S.-made fighter jets carried by the revamped Izumo carrier.