NARRATIVE – Faced with a triple threat from Russia, North Korea and China, the “Self-Defense Forces” are modernizing their equipment and trying to overcome their operational constraints.
Symbols that resemble white crosses dot the flight deck of theIzumo. There are five lined up along a yellow line from one end of the Japanese aircraft carrier to the other. They mark the landing locations for helicopters and soon F-35B planes. These American-designed fifth-generation fighters have the ability to land vertically and take off over a short distance. Even though it measures 248 meters long, the bridgeIzumolacking a catapult, unlike modern aircraft carriers, is too short for other types of aircraft.
« The yellow line serves as the takeoff line », Commander Takahiko Ishidera learnedly explains while showing the Figaro his ship, docked at the Yokosuka naval base, south of Tokyo. On the other side of the bay, we can see the American base, where the HQ of the 7 is established.e fleet, which is prohibited from being photographed. « The F-35Bs will be able to land just…
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