During a press conference on Jul. 4, Admiral Ryō Sakai, the Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), revealed that his service will engage in information exchange regarding the operation of the F-35B with the Italian Navy.
Photo: JMSDF
The focus will be on how to operate the F-35B from the JMSDF’s Izumo-class helicopter destroyers that are being modified to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing fighter.
According to the report by Sankei news, there is a possibility that Italian F-35Bs might operate from the Izumo-class ships.
Last month, Adm. Enrico Credendino, head of the Italian Navy made a visit to Japan just as ITS Francesco Morosini, a Thaon di Revel-class patrol vessel arrived in Japan for a port call.
Earlier this year, Italian news outlets reported that the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour will tour the Indo-Pacific sometime between late 2023 and early 2024.
At the press conference, Sakai clarified that the deployment of the Italian aircraft carrier is yet to be finalized.
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