The occasion for this was the presence of a Royal Navy strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. British crews carried out several landing and takeoff operations from the Japanese light aircraft carrier JS Kaga, which had been certified by the U.S. Department of Defense following extensive modernization and reconstruction. In addition to the British aircraft, U.S. Marine Corps aircraft also trained with the Japanese vessel. Such operations aim to provide Japanese personnel with valuable experience and to strengthen cooperation among the three partners.
Photo: Royal Navy
As part of its Self-Defense Forces modernization program, Japan has purchased 42 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, which are to form the core of the air groups of both Izumo-class light aircraft carriers (officially designated as helicopter-carrying destroyers). At the same time, such a decision enables deeper cooperation among the group of nations operating this type of aircraft. In addition to Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) version has also been procured by Italy for naval aviation. It remains an open question what decisions will be made by countries such as Spain or Australia, both of which possess multirole aircraft-carrying ships capable of operating the F-35B.
The presence of the HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group in the Pacific Ocean is part of an operational deployment conducted by the Royal Navy. It aims to demonstrate the global operational capabilities of the British fleet, which is rebuilding such capacities following the full entry into service of both new aircraft carriers.