Japan has not had fully fledged aircraft carriers since its World War Two defeat in 1945. The 248-metre Izumo, Japan’s largest warship equipped with a flat flight deck, was designed with an eye to hosting F-35B fighters. Possible refitting measures included adding a curved ramp at the end of the flight deck, improving the deck’s heat resistance against jet burners, and reinforcing the ship’s air traffic control capability, they said. However, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said the government was not taking any concrete steps towards refitting the Izumo. Japan has frequently conducted joint drills with US aircraft carriers in recent months to boost deterrence against North Korea.

Source: The Express Tribune December 26, 2017 08:48 UTC