Following the war game, the British aircraft carrier ‚Prince of Wales‘ arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, near Tokyo.<\/b>
\nNewly released photos show the United States and its NATO and Indo-Pacific allies staging a show of force in the Western Pacific with advanced F-35 stealth aircraft and their carriers.
As part of the drill, U.S. and British F-35B fighter jets conducted flight operations from the Japanese aircraft carrier JS Kaga, which has yet to be equipped with F-35B jets of its own.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.Why It Matters
The allied F-35 carrier war game comes after China\u2014which operates the largest navy in the world by hull count\u2014deployed two aircraft carriers in June on the eastern side of a U.S. defensive island chain formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines in the Western Pacific.
China’s increasing coast guard patrols near the disputed, Tokyo-administered Senkaku Islands, and continued threats toward neighboring Taiwan have prompted Japan cooperate more closely with its defense treaty partner, the U.S.What To Know
The F-35 is a family of fighter aircraft operated by U.S. and allied forces. It comes in three variants, including the B model\u2014designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings from ships without full-length flight decks\u2014and the C model, built for aircraft-carrier operations.
Photos released by the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group on Saturday show that British forces had their first F-35B jet land on the Kaga. This is one of two helicopter carriers being converted into aircraft carriers amid China’s threat to Japan’s outlying islands.
In addition to the Kaga, the multinational naval exercise featured the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington and the amphibious assault ship USS America, as well as the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which is deployed on an eight-month mission.
Both the America and the Prince of Wales are equipped with F-35B jets, while the George Washington operates F-35C jets. The remaining F-35 variant is the A model, also known as the „air force variant“, as it is designed specifically to operate from conventional runways.
In another photo released by the U.K. Carrier Strike Group on Sunday, a group of carrier-based aircraft was seen flying over a fleet of warships in the northern Philippine Sea. At least eight other warships participated in the drill, along with the four F-35 carriers.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed the flight operations on Tuesday, saying the training strengthened coordination with allied and partner navies. The first F-35B jets designed for operations from Japanese aircraft carriers were delivered to Japan on August 7.
Following the war game, the Prince of Wales and two warships\u2014a British destroyer and a Norwegian frigate\u2014arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, near Tokyo, on Tuesday. Photos shared by a local photographer show multiple F-35B jets staged on the flight deck.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said the port call demonstrated the commitment of the U.K. and Norway to contributing to peace and stability, with the aim of realizing the so-called „Free and Open Indo-Pacific“, as uncertainty surrounding Japan’s security environment grows.
In its recently released defense white paper, Japan described China as „an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge“ as the East Asian power expands its military presence.
The British aircraft carrier is scheduled to make a six-day visit to Tokyo from August 28 and depart Japan on September 2, newspaper The Japan Times reported. The warship previously visited Singapore in late June and Darwin\u2014in Australia’s Northern Territory\u2014in late July.What People Are Saying
Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a press release on Friday: „The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to actively contribute to regional peace and stability by working together with like-minded countries such as the United Kingdom and Norway, who share fundamental values and strategic interests, to maintain and strengthen a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and to address global security challenges.“
The Royal Navy said in a press release in April: „Between now and December, the [Prince of Wales] Carrier Strike Group will conduct a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.“What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether American, British, and Japanese forces will conduct additional exercises featuring the F-35B aircraft following the Prince of Wales‘ visit to Japan next month.<\/p>\n