\u5b8c\u5de5\u306b\u5411\u3051\u7740\u3005\u3068\u6e96\u5099\u304c\u9032\u307f\u307e\u3059\u3002#\u3044\u305a\u3082<\/a> #\u6c34\u4e0a\u8266\u968a<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sDFkNDARfF<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 \u6d77\u4e0a\u81ea\u885b\u968a\u3000\u6c34\u4e0a\u8266\u968a\u3010\u516c\u5f0f\u3011 (@JMSDF_SUF) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The two Izumo-class ships are undergoing two rounds of modification, taking advantage of their periodic refit and overhaul cycles, which occur approximately every five years separately.<\/p>\n The latest modification represents the second phase of JS Izumo\u2019s conversion. The first phase, completed in June 2021 at the same JMU facility, included heat-resistant deck coatings to withstand the F-35B\u2019s exhaust, installation of visual landing aids, and the addition of a centerline marking (tramline) along the flight deck.<\/p>\n The second phase began when JS Izumo entered dry dock on November 1, 2024. This stage involves more extensive structural modifications, including the bow redesign. The full conversion is expected to be completed by the end of Japan\u2019s fiscal year 2027 (March 2028).<\/p>\n JS Izumo after the modification (Credit: @Alsace_class on X)<\/p>\n Parallel Work on sistership JS Kaga<\/p>\n Work on the second ship of the class, JS Kaga, has followed a similar path. Its first phase of modification began in late fiscal year 2021 at JMU\u2019s Kure shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture. The Kaga emerged from dry dock in April 2023<\/a> with its bow already converted to a rectangular configuration, becoming the first Izumo-class vessel to display the new design.<\/p>\n The second phase of JS Kaga\u2019s modification is scheduled to begin in the current fiscal year 2026, with completion expected by the end of fiscal year 2028 (March 2029).<\/p>\n From Helicopter Destroyer to Light Carrier<\/p>\n The Izumo-class was originally designed to operate multiple helicopters from a full-length flight deck and has long been categorized by reference works such as Jane\u2019s Fighting Ships as a helicopter carrier.<\/p>\n With the integration of fixed-wing F-35B operations, the ships are effectively transitioning into light aircraft carriers. However, the Japanese government continues to avoid the term \u201caircraft carrier\u201d due to longstanding political and constitutional sensitivities, instead describing them as \u201cmulti-purpose operation destroyers.\u201d<\/p>\n New \u201cCVM\u201d Designation<\/p>\n![\"Japan\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HGJIEUQb0AAjx-m.jpg\"\/)
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