JS Izumo

JS Izumo (DDH-183) is a helicopter carrier which, as of 2020, is being converted into a light aircraft carrier. Officially classified as a multi-purpose operation destroyer, she is the lead ship in the Izumo class of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). She is the second warship to be named for Izumo Province, with the previous ship being the armoured cruiser Izumo (1898).

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Izumo.
JS Izumo (DDH-183) Yokohama Port SDF Fleet Review, 18 October 2015
History
Japan
Name: JS Izumo
Namesake: Izumo Province
Ordered: 2010
Builder: IHI Marine United
Laid down: 27 January 2012
Launched: 6 August 2013
Commissioned: 25 March 2015
Identification:
Status: In active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Izumo-class multi-purpose operation destroyer
Displacement:
  • 19,500 long tons (19,800 t) standard;
  • 27,000 long tons (27,000 t) full load
Length: 248 m (813 ft 8 in)
Beam: 38 m (124 ft 8 in)
Draft: 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: More than 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement: 970 including crew and troops[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • OYQ-12 combat direction system
  • FCS-3 fire control system
  • OPS-50 AESA radar
  • OPS-28 surface-search radar
  • OQQ-23 bow sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • NOLQ-3D-1 EW suite
  • Mark 36 SRBOC
  • Anti-torpedo mobile decoy (MOD)
  • Floating acoustic jammer (FAJ)
Armament:
Aircraft carried:
  • 7 ASW helicopters and 2 SAR helicopters[1]
  • 28 aircraft maximum[2]

The ruling Liberal Democrat Party announced in May 2018 that it favours converting Izumo to operate fixed-wing aircraft.[3] The conversion was confirmed in December 2018 when Japan announced the change of its defense guidelines. Upon the completion of the process, Izumo will be the first Japanese aircraft carrier since World War II.[4]

Design and construction
JS Izumo

The construction of the first ship of the class began in 2011 at an IHI Marine United shipyard in Yokohama,[5] with funding totalling 113.9 billion yen ($1.5 billion) being set aside in the fiscal 2010 budget for this purpose. The destroyers of this class were initially intended to replace the two ships of the Shirane class, which were originally scheduled to begin decommissioning in FY2014.[6]

The ship, the largest Japanese naval vessel since World War II, was laid down on 27 January 2012 and launched on 6 August 2013.[7][8] The ship began sea trials on 29 September 2014.[9] The ship was commissioned on 25 March 2015.[10]

The ship is as large as a Japanese carrier of Second World War-era.[11] Izumo is called a destroyer because the Japanese constitution forbids the acquisition of offensive weapons but the vessel allows Japan to project military power well beyond its territorial waters.[11]

Characteristics

Aircraft carried

The ship can carry up to 28 aircraft,[2] or 14 larger aircraft.[12] Only seven ASW helicopters and two SAR helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5-ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has five helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings and take-offs.

In 2010, Forecast International reported that some design features were intended to support fixed-wing aircraft such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II;[13] although neither the Ministry of Defense nor the JMSDF have mentioned the possibility of introducing fixed-wing aircraft. The ship has neither a "ski-jump" nor a catapult, typical features for launching fixed-wing aircraft.[14] If Izumo-class ships were to operate fixed-wing aircraft, they would be limited to STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) aircraft. Japan has purchased the conventional version of the Lightning II (the F-35A) but may buy the STOVL version (the F-35B) which could be operated from a modified Izumo-class ship.[15] In December 2018, it was announced that the Japanese government would change its defense guidelines and purchase about 40 F-35B to operate them from both Izumo and her sister ship Kaga.[4]

Air-defense

The ship is equipped with three Phalanx CIWS and two SeaRAM for her defense.[1]

Operational history

Izumo became operational in time to take part in a major August 2015 disaster drill conducted in Tokyo, alongside the Japan Coast Guard's large patrol vessel Izu. The two vessels acted as casualty receiving and triage stations during the exercise.[16]

In May 2017 Izumo was deployed to escort USNS Richard E. Byrd, a US supply vessel, to the area off Shikoku. Richard E. Byrd's mission was to refuel another US warship that was defending against North Korean missiles. This was the first time a Japanese vessel was deployed to escort a US ship since security legislation was enacted in March 2016. A small protest took place at Yokosuka after Izumo's departure.[17][18] The destroyer Sazanami also joined the mission.[19]

In 2020, Izumo began her conversion to operate the F-35B fighter aircraft.[20] Izumo is undergoing repairs such as strengthening the heat resistance of the deck and installing power supply equipment to enable the departure and arrival of the F-35B. The renovation work to change the bow shape to a quadrangle for the safe operation of the F-35B and the maintenance of the interior compartments are scheduled to be carried out in the second renovation starting from the end of 2024. There are no plans to install a catapult or a sloping runway called a ski jumping platform.[21]

References
  1. "ＩＨＩＭＵ、防衛省から平成２２年度計画ヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を受注". Nikkei Shimbun. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/22ddh.htm
  3. FUJIWARA, SHINICHI. "LDP calls for scrapping 1% cap on Japan's defense budget". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. Lockie, Alex. "Japan unveiled new plans for an F-35 aircraft carrier — and it's a Chinese navy killer". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  5. "ＩＨＩ、防衛省からヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を８００億円で受注". Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014.
  6. Ministry of Defense. "平成２１年度政策評価書（事前の事業評価）" (PDF). Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. "国内最大のヘリコプター搭載護衛艦の起工式を開催 (Ground-breaking ceremony of the nation's largest helicopter carriers held)". IHI.co.jp (in Japanese). 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. "Japan unveils new carrier-like warship, largest in navy since WWII". Fox News. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. "Japan puts helicopter carrier Izumo on sea trials". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 2 Oct 2014.
  10. "Japan Commissions Largest-Ever Helicopter Carrier". Aviation Today. Retrieved 30 Mar 2015.
  11. Kelly, Tim; Kubo, Nobuhiro (13 March 2017). "Japan plans to send largest warship to South China Sea, sources say". Reuters. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  12. Hardy, James (25 March 2015). "Japan commissions helicopter carrier Izumo". janes.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  13. Forecast International (21 June 2010). "Details of New Japanese 'Helicopter Destroyer'". Defensetalk.
  14. Holm, Erik. "Japan launches biggest warship since WW2" (in Danish). Ingeniøren, 12 August 2013. Accessed: 12 August 2013.
  15. Does the Izumo Represent Japan Crossing the "Offensive" Rubicon? Newpacificinstitute.com, 13 August 2013.
  16. "1.67 million people take part in disaster drills". The Yomiuri Shimbun. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  17. "Japan helicopter carrier conducts operation to protect US ships". Nikkei. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  18. Hlvac, Tyler (May 1, 2017). "Japanese helicopter destroyer to escort Navy ship on supply mission". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  19. "SDF completes 1st US warship escort mission". Jiji press. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  20. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/japan-begins-refitting-first-of-two-izumo-class-carriers-to-support-f-35b-operations
  21. "護衛艦「かが」、「いずも」に続き空母へ F35B搭載の改修費231億円要求――スキージャンプ設置せず（高橋浩祐） - Yahoo!ニュース". Yahoo!ニュース 個人 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
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