NEWSWORTHY
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 — ...
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 ...
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 — ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
Japan shrugs off constitutional concerns, but question remains: Are aircraft carriers necessary?
Although Japan's defense policy appears to have taken a new twist with a decision to deploy an aircraft carrier, doubts remain over whether the plan will best serve its national interests as the nation struggles with what it views as a growing threat from ...
Japan defense plan calls for aircraft carriers at sea and vigilance in space and cyberspace
The latest guidelines, which call for the modification of helicopter carriers so they can launch F-35B fighter jets, were adopted amid concerns over China’s expanding military activities.
Japan to effectively remodel MSDF vessel into aircraft carrier
Japan plans to effectively upgrade one of its helicopter carriers to enable it to transport and launch fighter jets, the latest draft of its defense guidelines showed Tuesday, in an apparent effort to curtail China's maritime assertiveness in nearby waters. The ruling parties approved the ...
Japan eyes introduction of multipurpose aircraft ‘mother ship’ and purchase of extra 100 F-35 jets
The government is considering transforming a helicopter destroyer into an aircraft carrier, a source said, in what could be seen as a departure from the country’s pacifist Constitution.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force appoints first woman to command warship squadron
The Maritime Self-Defense Force on Tuesday appointed the first woman to command a warship squadron, including the flagship Izumo helicopter carrier, as it tries to lure more women to make up for a dearth of male recruits in graying Japan. Ryoko Azuma will command four ...
Trump may inspect MSDF helicopter carrier Izumo on Japan trip: sources
U.S. President Donald Trump has been invited to inspect the Maritime Self-Defense Force's largest vessel during his visit to Japan early next month, Japanese government sources said Thursday. Trump would be the first U.S. president to visit the helicopter carrier Izumo, which was commissioned in ...
