A U.Ok. Provider Strike Group and a Japanese destroyer service will take a look at joint F-35 Lighting II fighter capabilities close to Japan this week.
The U.Ok. CSG will meet with Japan Maritime Self-Protection Pressure (JMSDF) destroyer service JS Kaga (DDH-184) within the Philippine Sea earlier than splitting up for port visits in Japan and South Korea. The joint drills might be a part of the UK group’s deployment dubbed Operation Highmast.
“The following stage of the Provider Strike Group deployment – codename Operation Highmast – focuses on air operations with the U.Ok. power resulting from hyperlink up with a Japanese job group, to observe mixed F-35 operations,” the Royal Navy mentioned Tuesday.
The 2 international locations will work collectively at sea for per week, earlier than the U.Ok. job group splits up, with some heading to South Korea and others, together with plane service flagship HMS Prince of Wales (R09), crusing to Japan.
The U.Ok. CSG’s embarked F-35Bs are prone to conduct cross-deck landings and take-offs from Kaga. Prince of Wales has a complete of 18 F-35Bs assigned to the “Dambusters” of Royal Air Pressure 617 Squadron and RN 809 Naval Air Squadron, although three of the F-35Bs have departed the service and are actually in South Korea for a collection of drills as a part of Operation Hightower.
Japan has solely simply obtained the primary 4 F-35Bs of a deliberate 42 plane fleet and Japanese pilots are nonetheless coaching below U.S. Marine Corps pilots to function the B variant. Japan already operates the F-35A variant within the Japan Air Self-Protection Pressure (JASDF).
The U.Ok and Japan may also work with the U.S. Navy whereas within the Philippine Sea.
“We’ll be working carefully with the U.S. Navy, particularly. It’s the place we’ll begin to see lots of the different strike teams come collectively, particularly america strike teams there, but in addition among the Japanese strike teams as effectively,” Commodore James Blackmore, the commander of the U.Ok. CSG, mentioned final month throughout a convention in Singapore.
The U.Ok. CSG departed Tuesday from Darwin, Australia, crusing to Japan following a six-day port go to.
Since then, the U.Ok. CSG has carried out F-35B Lightning II fighter coaching with the “Bats” of Marine Fighter Assault Squadron (VMFA) 242. Photographs launched on the U.Ok. Ministry of Protection’s imagery portal confirmed two plane from VMFA-242, No. 25 and No. 27, working on the flight deck of Prince of Wales on July 30.
The 2 fighters indifferent from their squadron to drill with the U.Ok. CSG. It’s unclear whether or not the plane are nonetheless with the U.Ok. CSG or in the event that they returned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), each of that are within the Philippine Sea.
Whereas the 2 fighters had been indifferent from America, the remainder of the squadron remained with the U.S. ship as a part of the air part of the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit with the America Amphibious Prepared Group. The ARG consists of America, amphibious dock touchdown ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD-22). The ARG and MEU left Japan in late Might for a patrol and have been taking part within the Talisman Sabre train.
The U.Ok. CSG just lately carried out twin service operations with the George Washington CSG as a part of Talisman Sabre. The Australia-led train additionally allowed Prince of Wales and Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys to conduct joint drills that included touchdown and taking off the U.Ok. service. The engagement with the Marine Corps was a precursor to extra Marine Corps personnel and F-35Bs becoming a member of later within the U.Ok. CSG deployment, the Royal Navy mentioned July 23.
Prince of Wales might embark JMSDF and JASDF personnel on it as a part of the joint drill as Japan works to familiarize its pilots with F-35B service operations.
In 2023, whereas Prince of Wales was conducting trials off the U.S. East Coast, a delegation of JMSDF and JASDF officers launched into the service to study F-35B operations. Japan has discovered from the Italian Navy throughout final yr’s deployment of the Cavour CSG to the Indo-Pacific, permitting Japan to see firsthand operations on service ITS Cavour (550).
Kaga and sister ship JS Izumo (DDH-183) would be the service platforms for Japan’s F-35Bs. Each ships will bear modifications from their authentic helicopter service design to function the F-35B. Izumo is presently present process its second and last stage of modification, which is anticipated to be full in 2028. Kaga will go in for its second and last stage modification in 2026 or 2027. Kaga carried out F-35B trials off the coast of California final fall.
Of the U.Ok. CSG, Prince of Wales, RN destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) and Royal Norwegian Navy frigate Roald Amundsen (F311) are anticipated to be in Japan from August to September, in accordance with a Japan Ministry of Protection information launch from April.
RN frigate HMS Richmond (F239), Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville De Quebec (FFH332), fleet oiler RFA Tidespring (A136) and Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F-104) arrived in Japan forward of the CSG, having indifferent earlier forward of participation in Talisman Sabre.
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