Japan’s New Aircraft Carrier: The Silent Giant That Has the US Worried

Japan’s military history took a dramatic turn in the early 1900s.

They revolutionized naval warfare by creating the world’s first true aircraft carrier.

This innovation changed how naval battles were fought forever.

The ship was called the Hōshō, and it was not just a symbol but a testing ground for Japan’s naval aviation.

Japanese engineers used it to learn everything about carrier operations—how planes should take off, land, and how the ship and aircraft could work together seamlessly.

The Hōshō proved that aircraft carriers were the key to controlling the seas.

Japan went all-in, building bigger and better carriers like the Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, Sukaku, Taihō, and Unryū.

Each ship showcased Japan’s growing naval power and technological prowess.

But this era of dominance didn’t last.

The last carrier, the Unryū, sank in 1944 during World War II.

A year later, atomic bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the deadliest conflict in history.

Japan made a monumental decision: it would become a peaceful nation.

No offensive weapons, no long-range missiles, no nuclear arms, and no aircraft carriers.

Japan’s military was limited to self-defense only.

Yet, Japan found a clever workaround.

They built two massive helicopter carriers, the Izumo-class, which were as large as traditional aircraft carriers—bigger than Italy’s.

For years, people speculated whether these were just aircraft carriers in disguise.

Now, with China becoming increasingly aggressive, Japan has officially transformed these ships into true aircraft carriers.

The Izumo and Kaga joined Japan’s navy in 2015 and 2017, each weighing 27,000 tons and capable of carrying 28 helicopters.

What makes them special is their design—they were built to be easily converted into full-fledged aircraft carriers when needed.

While Japan calls them helicopter carriers, they are really aircraft carriers in waiting.

To understand why this matters, we must explain what a helicopter carrier is.

A helicopter carrier is a type of aircraft carrier mainly designed for helicopters, featuring a large flat deck for aircraft to land and take off.

The deck can run the entire length of the ship or just cover part of it.

Modern helicopter carriers vary widely.

Some, like the Royal Navy’s Ocean, have full-length decks, while others have smaller decks at the back, like the Soviet Navy’s Moskva-class or China’s Type 081A.

The line between helicopter carriers and light aircraft carriers has blurred with the arrival of vertical takeoff and landing planes like the Harrier and F-35B Lightning II.

For example, the US Navy’s Wasp-class ships carry both helicopters and Harriers, making them light aircraft carriers.

A full aircraft carrier is a floating airport with a long flat deck and storage areas for aircraft below.

They allow naval forces to project air power thousands of miles from home without relying on land bases.

Japan’s Kaga is a powerful ship officially classified as a multi-purpose operation destroyer.

Construction began in 2013 at Japan Marine United’s Yokohama Shipyard.

Launched in 2015 and commissioned in 2017, it features five spots on its flight deck where helicopters can take off or land simultaneously.

Experts noticed early on that Japan’s new helicopter destroyers looked designed to handle more than just helicopters.

Speculation grew that these ships could launch fighter jets like the V-22 Osprey and the F-35B Lightning II.

Japan confirmed these plans by announcing upgrades to carry the F-35B, a stealth fighter capable of short takeoff and vertical landing.

Work to modify the Izumo and Kaga started in 2022 and is expected to take about five years per ship.

This includes reshaping the bow and upgrading flight decks to support fixed-wing aircraft operations.

In 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a defense budget of 26.

2 trillion yen (about 238 billion USD) over five years.

This budget covers the upgrades to the Izumo and Kaga and the purchase of 147 F-35 stealth fighters.

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force plans to receive 42 F-35B aircraft.

The new fighters will be stationed at bases near the Southwest Islands and close to the Kure base in Hiroshima Prefecture, where the Kaga is stationed.

The Kaga measures 814 feet (248 meters) long and weighs 27,000 tons, making it the largest ship in Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force.

It is a light carrier, similar in size to Italy’s Cavour and many amphibious ships globally, but much smaller than American supercarriers like the USS George H.W.Bush, which is over 1,000 feet long and weighs more than 100,000 tons.

In 2018, the Kaga sailed through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean during a deployment exercise, making stops in the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka.

This voyage demonstrated Japan’s naval presence in key waters and its growing cooperation with allies.

During a visit to Japan, then-US President Donald Trump toured the Kaga and praised Japan for increasing its military spending and purchasing American equipment.

He emphasized the importance of allies sharing defense responsibilities.

The Izumo, the sister ship of the Kaga, began construction in 2011 and was commissioned in 2015.

It can carry up to 28 aircraft, though this drops to 14 when transporting larger planes.

Typically, it operates seven anti-submarine warfare helicopters and two search-and-rescue helicopters.

The Izumo can also transport 400 troops and vehicles, making it versatile for various missions.

Despite speculation about its capabilities, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has been tight-lipped about deploying fixed-wing aircraft on these vessels.

The Izumo-class lacks traditional catapult or ski-jump systems, indicating that any fixed-wing aircraft would have to be short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) types like the F-35B.

In December 2018, Japan announced plans to update its defense rules and acquire 42 F-35B fighters to operate from the Izumo.

The Izumo uses a combined gas and gas (COGAG) propulsion system, allowing speeds over 30 knots (35 mph).

It is equipped with advanced radar, sonar, and electronic warfare systems to defend against threats and protect itself.

In May 2017, the Izumo made headlines by protecting a US supply ship near Japanese waters for the first time since Japan revised its military laws in 2016.

This mission marked a significant shift in Japan’s defense posture and closer cooperation with the United States.

However, not everyone in Japan welcomed this change.

Protesters expressed concerns that such missions and the use of large warships went against Japan’s post-war pacifist policies.

In September 2021, the Izumo trained with the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth and other ships in the Pacific, further signaling Japan’s growing naval capabilities.

By October 2021, US Marine Corps F-35B fighters landed on the Izumo for the first time, a historic milestone.

In May 2022, Japan announced the Izumo would participate in the RIMPAC naval exercises alongside other Japanese destroyers.

Globally, there are about 50 active aircraft carriers in 15 navies.

The United States operates 11 large nuclear-powered fleet carriers, each carrying around 80 fighter jets.

China, Britain, and India each operate two carriers, with China building a third.

France and Russia have one each, while Italy, Spain, and Turkey operate smaller carriers capable of handling vertical takeoff aircraft.

What makes aircraft carriers so special are their speed and size.

Speed allows them to reach strategic locations quickly and helps planes take off by creating wind over the deck.

Size provides space for aircraft to take off, land, and be stored.

Japan’s Kaga and Izumo are particularly interesting because they started as helicopter carriers but are now being upgraded to handle fighter jets.

This sends a clear message to China and the world: Japan is ready to stand up for itself.

For China, this development is alarming.

Japan protecting US ships in the South China Sea is a direct challenge to China’s claims in the region.

China views aircraft carriers as symbols of power and has historically criticized Japan’s military moves due to wartime history.

Seeing Japan’s largest warships working alongside American forces is a red flag for China.

It signals Japan’s break from its pacifist past and its readiness for a stronger military role in Asia.

This cooperation between Japan and the US makes China increasingly nervous.

China must now contend with American ships and Japanese ships protecting those American vessels.

This has pushed China to accelerate its naval buildup, especially its aircraft carrier program.

China currently has three carriers and more in planning to match the growing show of force in the Pacific.

The Pacific has become a high-stakes chessboard.

It is not just about warships but about shifting alliances and power balances.

Japan, once committed to staying out of military matters, now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States.

China watches this transformation closely and pushes harder to become the region’s dominant power.

What started as Japan’s clever workaround—calling aircraft carriers helicopter carriers—has evolved into something much bigger.

It has reshaped how countries build navies, choose allies, and demonstrate strength in the Pacific.

As these nations eye each other across the waves, one thing is clear:
The balance of power in Asia is not just shifting—it has already changed.