Japan prepares to send its aircraft carrier for annual deployment in the Pacific region

Asia-Pacific, News June 5, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Japan plans to send its recently converted aircraft carrier as a part of the fleet for the country’s annual Indo-Pacific Deployment 22 (IPD22). The announcement was made by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) through a press release on May 31, 2022.

IPD is a multi-month deployment activity conducted annually by the Japanese navy in the Indo-Pacific region. IDP has become an important part of Japan’s Indo-Pacific naval strategy. The IDP22 would last for four months, from June 13 to October 28, 2022.

Japan plans to deploy the JS Izumo along with JS Takanami and JS Kirisame as well as a number of smaller vessels, helicopters, unmanned submarines, and other naval defense equipment for the IPD22.

Japan would also send several maritime defense aircraft including the Kawasaki P-1 Patrol aircraft, UP-3D electronic intelligence training aircraft, and ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian aircraft. It is yet to be confirmed whether these aircraft would be paired with the JS Izumo to accompany the forces throughout the deployment.

Although the Japanese fleet’s most prominent ship JS Izumo has previously participated in IPD training and exercises this is the first time that the ship is being deployed after going through a conversion from being a Helicopter carrier to an aircraft carrier ship in October 2021. Originally created as a Helicopter Carrier Destroyer, the Japanese navy began to convert the JS Izumo and its sister ship JS Kaga to integrate the ability to accommodate F-35B fighter jets.

Japan is currently the largest buyer of U.S.-made F-35 jets with a plan to buy more than 147 aircraft, including 42 F-35B variants. The changes in the JS Izumo and JS Kaga created an increase in aviation fuel capacity onboard and the availability of armored magazines to store air-launched weapons.

Indo-Pacific Deployment 2022 (IPD22)

The JMSDF has done the IPD deployment annually since 2019 in order, “to improve JMSDF tactical capabilities and to strengthen cooperation with partner navies in the Indo-Pacific region through joint exercises and secondly to contribute to the peace and stability of the region and to enhance mutual understanding and relationship with partner countries through the deployment,” according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

*^{Japan’s JS Izumo (DDH-183) taking part in Indo-Pacific Deployment 2019. (Image Credit: Japanese government/ JS Izumo (DDH-183) taking part in Indo-Pacific Deployment 2019)}*

The IPD22 units will make port calls to Australia, Fiji, French New Caledonia, India, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. IPD22 also aligns with the U.S.-led naval exercise Rim of Pacific 2022 (RIMPAC22). During the course of the coming few months, the Japanese naval fleet in the Indo-Pacific region would participate in several other exercises enlisted as below:

– Pacific Partnership 2022: A U.S.-led military event that includes medical and cultural exchange activities within the Indo-Pacific region.

– PACIFIC VANGUARD 22: A joint exercise between Japan, the United States, Australia, and South Korea.

– JIMEX: A joint military and naval exercise between Japan and India.

– KAKADU 2022: A multilateral joint exercise presided over by the Royal Australian Navy.

– Exercise SAMASAMA/LUMBAS: A U.S.-led multilateral joint exercise that includes forces from the U.S., France, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.