Marine Corps F-35B Conduct First Landing Aboard JS Izumo
14 Oct 2021 | Capt. Marco Valenzuela 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
MCAS IWAKUNI, Japan --
At the request of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 successfully conducted the first ever landing of two F-35B Lightning II aircraft aboard the Japanese Ship Izumo on Oct. 3. Following a series of modifications to the JS Izumo to enable short take-off and vertical landing operations, a capability that the “B” variant of the F-35 specializes in, U.S. Marines embarked aboard the JS Izumo and worked directly with JMSDF personnel as part of a bilateral effort to ensure the capability test was both effective and safe.
“This trial has proved that the JS Izumo has the capability to support takeoffs and landings of STOVL aircraft at sea, which will allow us to provide an additional option for air defense in the Pacific Ocean in the near future,” said JMSDF Rear Adm. Shukaku Komuta, commander of Escort Flotilla One.
Japan is one of 14 nations worldwide that participate in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program and announced in August, 2019 that they would purchase 42 F-35B aircraft from the United States. This announcement was particularly significant since the last time Japan operated an aircraft carrier was over 75 years ago.
https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2810746/marine-corps-f-35b-conduct-first-landing-aboard-js-izumo/
