Japan's Izumo helicopter destroyer is being upgraded to carry F-35B fighters.
USNI News reported on April 17 that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will send two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers to participate in the largest deployment ever.
Previous deployments in the Indo- Pacific region have consisted of only one Izumo- or Hyuga-class ship for four to five months.
These two ships will join many other JMSDF vessels deployed for a period of 7 months, from May 3 to December 15. Other ships include two destroyers Ariake and Haguro, landing ship Kunisaki and escort ship Noshiro, divided into 4 surface units, along with P-1 patrol planes and an undisclosed number of submarines.
"The JMSDF will conduct its 2024 Indo- Pacific deployment to realize a free and open Indo- Pacific region," the JMSDF said in a statement.
The deployment will see Japanese ships participate in a series of regional exercises with allied navies.
The Japanese ships will visit many countries and territories including Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tonga, the United States and Vanuatu.
The visit to Tonga will include participation in the Royal Tonga Navy's 50th anniversary celebrations. Japan is currently in discussions with other countries for ships to visit.
Exercises during this deployment will include Marara, RIMPAC, Pacific Dragon, Pacific Vanguard, Kakadu, Pacific Partnership and Malabar.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group concluded an exercise with the JMSDF on April 13. According to the German military, this US aircraft carrier strike group will participate in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise near Hawaii this summer.
In Japan's deployment, the helicopter carrier Kaga is participating for the first time since completing phase one of a modification last month that will enable it to carry F-35B fighters.
As the JMSDF prepares for its Indo-Pacific deployment, Canada has begun its annual mission in the region. The frigate HMCS Montreal departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on April 14 for what is expected to be a six-month deployment.
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