Japan is converting its helicopter destroyers into actual aircraft carriers.

One of Japan's helicopter destroyers. AFP.

Japan is going to convert two of its so called helicopter destroyers into actual aircraft carriers capable of launching fighters. AFP. The move is set to counter China's growing naval power in the region. In addition to converting the carriers to launch fighters, Japan will buy 42 F-35's with the likeliest candidates being the STOVL F-35B variant which was designed for carrier use. Japan's constitution limits what kind of weapons it can build and buy. Though the carriers will give Japan a much larger naval footprint, they will not be a true "blue water" navy and won't use their carriers for power projection globally. 

My Comment:

I always figured this was the plan for these ships. Indeed, the term helicopter destroyer was always a joke and I knew that sooner or later Japan would convert these ships into true carriers. Helicopter carriers obviously have a role but I doubt Japan would have ordered so many of these ships. In addition to the two Hyuga-class ships that are getting converted, Japan also has three more traditional helicopter Osumi-class ships that are more traditional helicopter carriers. 

The reason for this move is very obvious. China has produced their own carriers and have just launched their first home made one. With China growing in power Japan needs to ensure that they can counter their carriers. One of the best ways to do that is a couple of carriers of their own. 

Japan also understands that they might not always be able to count on their allies. Japan is moving to strengthen their alliance with the United States. I think under President Trump, The United States would have Japan's back. But there is no guarantee that the next president would be the same way. I also don't think that the American people want to risk their own people to protect Japan.

These carriers probably don't compare to America's supercarriers. Instead these will be light carriers with probably no more than a squadron of fighters on board. Of the 42 F-35B's ordered I am guessing only a few will be on any given carrier at any given time. They will have a limited strike capability but I am guessing their primary role is to provide cover for the rest of Japan's navy. 

Though everyone seems to be getting into the carrier game, there has been some rumbling that the carrier is obsolete. China has developed missiles that supposedly can take out carriers. These missiles are ballistic in nature and are not easily countered. I do think that if a real war between China and Japan were to break out, the carriers would probably be among the first things to be destroyed. That being said, they are still very much worth it in anything other than a full scale war with a peer power. 

I do have to wonder if the arms race between Japan and China is going to work out for everyone. It's clear that people are expecting a war sooner or later, but even if there isn't one, it's possible that buying all these weapons could bankrupt either country. 

The good news is that Japan is buying weapons from America. Despite the obvious problems with the F-35 program and the F-35B in particular we are sending a large number of them to Japan. That will help ease our trade deficit with them and help recoup some of the losses caused by the program.