Well, if it is about Izumo Class with 10 F35B, it is reachable for Japan. As long as they raise their military spending. Izumo is way smaller than Liaoning, and it can only take 10 F-35B. I don't know which is better, an Izumo with helicopter for ASW mission, or an Izumo with 10 F-35B for Aircraft Carrier mission.
@jhungary, what do you think about this? Which is better for Izumo? An Izumo with ASW Mission helicopter, or an Izumo with 10 F-35B for aircraft carrier mission. Can the F-35B replace the function of ASW heli that it replace? Does 10 F-35B is effective enough for their Aircraft Carrier mission? Well, although I like trolling with you, but this is a serious question
and on topic with this thread too. It is better for more technical discussion like this than talk about "Japanese Slaver enslave Vietnam" Troll post.
Japan have a defence budget of about 60 billions, at 0.98% of GDP, as I stated before, Japan could easily afford 120 billions budget which would make the % scale at 1.9% on GDP.
On the other hand, yes Izumo class may not be well suited for Light Carrier Operation, they are probably working on a 50:50 split which mean once they were modified, they are to use as interdiction operation. What that means is that they would retain 50% helicopter (scout and ASW) and 50% fighter flying CAP.
While there's that, also we should not be forgetting that Izumo Class is, again, overpriced. At 1.2 billions each, a similar sea control/interdiction ship cost anywhere from 500 to 800 millions. And even with WASP Class, a Sea Control Light Carrier, it's only comes with a price tag of $1.5 billions each, and it could carry 20 fighters.
And as I said, Japan plans to acquire 42 F-35B, which would mean after outfitting them on both Izumo Class, they would still have 22 spare to go, which is a tradition Sea Control complement of a Wasp/America class Carrier.
Conventional wisdom would suggest that gap would see Japan either commissioning another 2 Izumo, which is not likely, or they are building a new 45000 ton class ship to outfit with the remaining F-35B they plan to order and then use the new ship as a fleet flag ship (which is similar to US Expedition squadron). And in this case, depends on foreign investment, I am pretty sure US would more than gladly to help out with Design a Wasp/America class ship for Japan and if Japan have budgeted well on this, they can probably build a Wasp Class type ship with Izumo Budget.
And finally, Abe is closing in on repealing Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution in 2020, which means 3 things will happen
1.) Japan will recognize its national armed force
2.) The Offensive Weapon ban will be abolished
3.) The Cap for Military Budget will be abolished
And they are now saying they wanted to convert the 2 Izumo into Aircraft Carrier? You do the maths.