Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Thread

[ngatimozart]

Sister to IZUMO has commissioned. Some bits deleted for brevity. For whole article pls click on the link at bottom.

Report follows, from South China Morning Post (ie Hong Kong).


Japan’s second large helicopter carrier enters service

22 Mar 2017 - 10:37am

Japan’s second big helicopter carrier, the Kaga, entered service on Wednesday, giving the nation’s military greater ability to deploy beyond its shores as it pushes back against China’s growing influence in Asia.

Accompanied by a military band, Maritime Self Defence Force commanders took possession of the 248 metre long vessel at the Japan Marine United shipyard in Yokohama near Tokyo, where it was docked next to its sister ship the Izumo.

In its biggest show of naval power in foreign waters in more than 70 years, Japan plans to dispatch the Izumo in May on a three-month tour through the South China Sea, sources with knowledge of the plan told Reuters earlier.

The addition of the Kaga means Japan will be able to mount overseas operations more often in the future. It will be based in Kure western Japan, which was home to Japan’s most famous second world war battleship, the Yamato. The Izumo operates from Yokosuka near Tokyo, which is also where of the US Seventh Fleet’s carrier, the Ronald Reagan is based.

Japan is also adding longer-range patrol aircraft and military cargo planes to its defence capability, and buying Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, amphibious assault vehicles and Boeing’s Osprey troop carrier, which can operate from the Izumo and the Kaga.


Link Japan now has two big helicopter carrier ships as Kaga enters service | South China Morning Post

A second Japanese flat top with that name. The first flat top participated in attacks on Shanghai (1937), Pearl Harbor (1941), Rabaul (1942) Darwin (1942) and was scuttled at the Battle of Midway (June 1942) after being severely damaged and unable to be saved.

That name will wind the Chinese up somewhat.

 

[gf0012-aust]

stars and stripes op-ed on the same vessel

https://www.stripes.com/news/japan-...utm_campaign=Daily+Headlines&utm_medium=email

 

[MrConservative]

More on the Izumo.

Japan sends biggest warship to Pacific - World - NZ Herald News

Its a great looking ship. Hope it eventually does a goodwill trip down under.

 

[Volkodav]

The French won the submarine contract so maybe we could get the Japanese to quote some DDHs for us instead

I bet they would come in cheaper than our new frigates, even if we did a deal similar to the LHDs with Japan built hulls delivered to Australia for completion.

 

[ngatimozart]

Yes, they are a nice looking ship and it would be good to see one down under on a goodwill trip. A DDH in the RAN, hmmm?

 

[t68]

The French won the submarine contract so maybe we could get the Japanese to quote some DDHs for us instead ��

I bet they would come in cheaper than our new frigates, even if we did a deal similar to the LHDs with Japan built hulls delivered to Australia for completion.

Where's that like button?:dance

 

[hauritz]

I like the idea of this sort of ship.

It could work as an anti-submarine platform, support amphibious operations and disaster relief. I agree it would be useful to Australia as primarily an ASW ship but also as back-up for the Canberra class.

I don't think it would be a particularly effective fixed-wing aircraft carrier though with no ski-jump and no deck heat protection.

While I don't see the Japanese ever turning this ship into a proper aircraft carrier I do see it as a possible stepping stone for some future capability. After all, they went from a 19000 ton Huyga to the 27000 ton Izuma ... who knows how big and capable the next class will be.

 

[MrConservative]

I like the idea of this sort of ship.

It could work as an anti-submarine platform, support amphibious operations and disaster relief. I agree it would be useful to Australia as primarily an ASW ship but also as back-up for the Canberra class.

One could possibly add to that the AMCM role with embarked rotary, which is one of the capability outputs of the Hyūga Class and indeed part of the original design brief of the earlier Osumi Class though the later Hyūga's took that capability set over.

Practical, work horse kinds of ships.

 

[vonnoobie]

I see this ship having a use for the RAN in most cases but the idea of it being an ASW assets needs to be done away with. We simply don't have enough ASW aircraft so any though of it carrying a half dozen or more Seahawks is fantasy.

 

[Volkodav]

I see this ship having a use for the RAN in most cases but the idea of it being an ASW assets needs to be done away with. We simply don't have enough ASW aircraft so any though of it carrying a half dozen or more Seahawks is fantasy.

The thing is with more and more UCAVs being developed and their roles expanding I see flight decks and hanger space becoming critical in the future. The JMSDF, RAN , nor any other professional navy, has the slightest intention of operating single destroyers or frigates in anything other than the lowest level scenarios, i.e. they will always operate in conjunction with other combatants and once you have a second hull they can then possibly each specialise to a degree. When the difference however is one has a medium calibre gun and strategic length VLS (possibly with ABM) and the other has a large flight deck, hanger and magazines, while both have ESSM, volume search radar and high end CMS, the two between them have the best of both.

 

[Ranger25]

Interesting news about TLAMs and the Japanese navy

No real news by now for the forum, but an interesting proposition that the JDF may consider the purchase of TLAMs

They have Mk 41 VLS on both Atago and Kongo class DDGs. The intent is to be better prepared to go after potential North Korean MRBM launchers.

An offensively defense take for sure, especially given their constitutional contraints that Abe has been pushing to its tests.

https://news.usni.org/2017/05/10/japan-considering-buying-tomahawks-25578

 

[FormerDirtDart]

Here Is Japan’s First V-22: The First Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft For A Military Outside Of The U.S.
View attachment 6895
Large Image JSDF V-22

 

[Ranger25]

Japanese Minitry adding record Money for additional SM-3 and PAC-3

Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record-high budget to add missile interceptors and other equipment to defend the country from more North Korean weapons launches


Purchasing more SM-2 IIA and PAC-3s





Japan Defense Ministry seeks missile interceptors in budget

 

[swerve]

Perhaps Kim Jong-Un is in the pay of the JSDF. He certainly seems to be doing his best to boost their popularity & budgets.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Purchasing more SM-2 IIA and PAC-3s]

SM-3 IIA..

Which is still somewhat developmental (mostly in software I would think). Certainly its clear North Korea has the capability to launch missiles very high around japan which will make a safe mid course interception more difficult. SM-3 IIA will assist with that.

 

[colay1]

Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record-high budget to add missile interceptors and other equipment to defend the country from more North Korean weapons launches


Purchasing more SM-2 IIA and PAC-3s





Japan Defense Ministry seeks missile interceptors in budget

Actually SM-3 Blk IIA which Japan jointly developed with the US.

 

[Ranger25]

Actually SM-3 Blk IIA which Japan jointly developed with the US.

Correct, apologies.

 

[ngatimozart]

There are reports that both Japan and South Korea are investigating the possibility of operating the F-35B off their flattops. In Japans case it would be the Izumo class DDH and South Korea, the Dokdo class of LHD. In both cases the ships would have to be substantially modified. However in Japan's case, this could create problems around the issue of them operating CVs.

 

[t68]

There are reports that both Japan and South Korea are investigating the possibility of operating the F-35B off their flattops. In Japans case it would be the Izumo class DDH and South Korea, the Dokdo class of LHD. In both cases the ships would have to be substantially modified. However in Japan's case, this could create problems around the issue of them operation CVs.

A Japanese delegation inspected the UK CV HMS Queen Elizabeth, I imagine its to gain a different perspective in STOVL operations and how these impact on CV operations and the determination of aircraft numbers. Realistically how much does the Izumo class need to be modified an article states the obvious needs such as the bow and deck but what maybe they also may need increased elevators to handle the weight of a F35B(speculation only) what about increasing the bunkerage for jet fuel and increased explosive magazine, how does limiting the helicopter capacity effect current conops on how they operate now. For these reasons its not a given that they will modify the existing ships they may opt for new build to take advantage of some of the things listed.

UK and Japan strengthen defence ties - GOV.UK

Japan mulls buying F-35B fighters for future operation from carriers

Potential defense shift may see Japan arm helicopter carriers with F-35B stealth jets : Japanese Media - Indian Defence Research Wing

 

[vonnoobie]

A Japanese delegation inspected the UK CV HMS Queen Elizabeth, I imagine its to gain a different perspective in STOVL operations and how these impact on CV operations and the determination of aircraft numbers. Realistically how much does the Izumo class need to be modified an article states the obvious needs such as the bow and deck but what maybe they also may need increased elevators to handle the weight of a F35B(speculation only) what about increasing the bunkerage for jet fuel and increased explosive magazine, how does limiting the helicopter capacity effect current conops on how they operate now. For these reasons its not a given that they will modify the existing ships they may opt for new build to take advantage of some of the things listed.

UK and Japan strengthen defence ties - GOV.UK

Japan mulls buying F-35B fighters for future operation from carriers

Potential defense shift may see Japan arm helicopter carriers with F-35B stealth jets : Japanese Media - Indian Defence Research Wing

New build would be the most likely. Unless the current ships in the past where designed and built around the possibility of operating the F-35B then the level of work required to modify it (hypothetically) would equal or exceed the cost of a new build ship not even counting the risk and delay factor. The Australian Canberra's where estimated I believe at $1.5 billion AUD to modify and that is for a class that was designed around operating the F-35B.