The F-35B’s are providing a new capability to convert Japan’s helicopter carriers into bases for strike aircraft:

A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter makes a vertical landing aboard the JS Izumo, a Japanese helicopter carrier, in the Philippine Sea, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)

A pair of Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth aircraft became the first fighters to fly from a Japanese carrier since World War II after landing and taking off from the JS Izumo on Sunday. 

News about the successful test of the newly upgraded warship’s ability to support the short-takeoff, vertical-landing jets was tweeted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Tuesday. 

The message, which included video footage of the operation, said the JMSDF will continue “to steadily carry out the necessary modifications to the Izumo class to acquire the capability to operate the F-35B.”

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