Satellite imagery reveals US ally’s aircraft carrier upgrades

Recently updated satellite imagery shows the latest stage of modifications converting a Japanese naval ship into an aircraft carrier capable of operating stealth fighter jets.

In response to Newsweek‘s inquiry, Japan‘s Ministry of Defense said on Friday that two Izumo-class vessels, JS Izumo and JS Kaga, are scheduled to complete all modifications in fiscal years 2027 and 2028, respectively, to support flight operations of F-35B aircraft at sea.

Why It Matters

Japan is a key United States treaty ally under the First Island Chain strategy, a north-south line of islands in the western Pacific running from the Japanese archipelago to the Philippines through Taiwan, which is intended to deter against potential China’s aggression in the disputed East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Facing China’s growing military activities near Japan, particularly around its outlying southwestern islands where only a few airfields can support land-based fighter jets in the event of a Taiwan contingency, two Japanese helicopter destroyers, the Izumo and the Kaga, are being converted into the nation’s first aircraft carriers since World War II.

Once the Izumo and the Kaga complete modifications, they would support two Japan-based American naval vessels—the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli—capable of carrying fighter jets to counter the Chinese Navy, which reportedly aims to expand its aircraft carriers from three to nine.

What To Know

According to @type36512, a Japan-based military observer, Google Earth recently updated satellite imagery of Japan Marine United’s Yokohama Shipyard Isogo Works southwest of Tokyo, showing the status of the Izumo as of early November 2025.

The imagery shows that, compared with one captured in early March 2025 at the same location, the Izumo‘s trapezoidal bow has nearly completed its modification to a rectangular shape, designed to allow the vessel to more easily operate the F-35B jet.

The F-35B is one of three radar-evading F-35 jet variants, capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings from vessels without aircraft carrier-style flight decks. Last August, Japan received its first of 42 F-35B jets, which are currently deployed at an air base.

Both the Izumo and the Kaga are scheduled to undergo two phases of modifications, Naval News reported. The Izumo carried out the first phase from March 2020 to June 2021, during which markings and heat-resistant coating were applied to its flight deck.

Following its flight test with the F-35B jet in October 2021, the Izumo began the second phase in 2024 to change the bow’s shape. Meanwhile, the Kaga modified its bow in fiscal 2023 during the first phase and is scheduled to begin the next phase in fiscal 2026.

In addition to confirming the reshaping of the bow of the Izumo, Japan’s Ministry of Defense told Newsweek that the ship’s aircraft maintenance hangar is being upgraded.

While receiving upgrades, the Izumo-class vessels have updated their hull classification symbols, according to Naval News, changing from helicopter destroyers, or DDH, to cruisers voler multipurpose, or CVM, meaning “aircraft-carrying multi-role cruisers.”

For reference, the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet—the world’s largest by displacement and hull count, with 11 vessels in service—uses CVN as its hull classification symbol, with CV standing for aircraft carrier and N indicating that it is powered by nuclear reactors.

What People Are Saying

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, commander of the Fleet Escort Force, said in November 2024: “We believe that the acquisition of F-35B operational capability for the JS Izumo class destroyers will be enhanced Japanese defense capability and interoperability between Japan and the U.S. and will strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the countries as well as ultimately contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in December 2025: “In recent years, Japan has removed the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense, developed the so-called ‘capability to strike enemy bases,’ strengthened cooperation on extended deterrence, and built its frontier islands into front lines, which clearly goes beyond Japan’s ‘exclusively defense-oriented’ policy.”

What Happens Next

Japanese aircraft carriers are expected to host U.S. F-35B jets in the future as part of efforts to further integrate the two allied militaries to better counter the Chinese Navy.