Izumo: A helicopter destroyer or an aircraft carrier?

[SeaEagle]

Two ships are officially designated as helicopter destroyers. But are they helicopter destroyers or aircraft carriers? There is a reason why Japan prefers to use helicopter destroyer definition The biggest Japanese warship since the Second World War, the Izumo-class, is one of the most important symbols of the change in the Asia-Pacific region. However, due to its constitution, Japan cannot have an offensive weapon system such as an aircraft carrier.

For modern weapon systems, it is always hard to find a solid mission definition. It is because they can conduct both offensive and defensive duties. For example, a destroyer is an escort ship. Its mission definition is to protect the fleet. But current destroyers have an offensive capability that is much greater than the Second World War battlecruisers.

It could not be said that an aircraft carrier is just an offensive system and a single type of naval vessel. There are many subtypes of it. With its supercarriers, the USA can rule the seas and conduct operations against any nations overseas.

The medium-type aircraft carriers of China, the UK, France, and Russia are competent. But they can control only some areas, and they are not a real threat for many countries. The small aircraft carriers are an ideal platform for anti-submarine warfare duties, supporting multi-national operations, or fighting against countries with limited military capability.

So, the Izumo-class can be defined as an aircraft carrier rather than a helicopter destroyer. Still, its offensive capabilities cannot be compared to the aircraft carriers of the USA, the UK, China, and Russia.

A view of Izumo (JMSDF image)

Read more on :

https://navalpost.com/izumo-helo-destroyer-or-an-aircraft-carrier/

 

[aziqbal]

the name is LHD

I have no idea what JMSDF is doing with that flight deck the bow section has nothing not even helicopter marking spots and that deck or even the entire LHD is not optimised

now all that might be deliberate so the neighbours dont panic but make no mistake

Izumo Class along with the Hyuga Class and Osumi class are very capable flat decks, thats 7 x flat decks alot of deck space with not alot going on

I am not sure if Izumo flight deck can take the heat from the F35B but Japanese would be more than capable to re-design it so it can take 6-8 x F35B

do they have aircraft refuelling, weapons elevators, fighter jet parking or even can the elevators take the weight of the F35B? I dont know

but I think all of the Izumo is designed for F35B but they dont show it

Japan is in very close talks with Royal Navy on F35B operations with HMS QE

also QE is coming to Japan too and Japanese naval officers have been on board the QE

I have a feeling Izumo in the future may take the F35B so its actually a mini-carrier

I have never seen more than 6 helicopters on that deck even although JMSDF Navy has dozens and dozens of helicopters

 

[PakFactor]

the name is LHD

I have no idea what JMSDF is doing with that flight deck the bow section has nothing not even helicopter marking spots and that deck or even the entire LHD is not optimised

now all that might be deliberate so the neighbours dont panic but make no mistake

Izumo Class along with the Hyuga Class and Osumi class are very capable flat decks, thats 7 x flat decks alot of deck space with not alot going on

I am not sure if Izumo flight deck can take the heat from the F35B but Japanese would be more than capable to re-design it so it can take 6-8 x F35B

do they have aircraft refuelling, weapons elevators, fighter jet parking or even can the elevators take the weight of the F35B? I dont know

but I think all of the Izumo is designed for F35B but they dont show it

Japan is in very close talks with Royal Navy on F35B operations with HMS QE

also QE is coming to Japan too and Japanese naval officers have been on board the QE

I have a feeling Izumo in the future may take the F35B so its actually a mini-carrier

I have never seen more than 6 helicopters on that deck even although JMSDF Navy has dozens and dozens of helicopters

Izumo is going into modification and re-equipment on both LHDs the upper deck being remade to handle F-35B's should be complete in 2024.

Pictures of the new Japanese aircraft carrier JS Izumo after modifications (navyrecognition.com)