Well Swervey mate, we are getting way off topic. You and I could debate the Japanese Constitution till the cows come home, but it would get us nowhere.

But I think you and I can both agree that this carrier is just a pipe dream by some ill informed person- right!

Could the Japanese amend their constitution if they see China as a groing threat to their security?

With the way China is re-arming itself, and with Japan having no ambitions for a large empire anymore. Would the rest of the world be more willing to support them?

No Voodoo, the Japanese can not amend their consititution without refering to the US who are the “Care Takers” of Japan since winning the war, (it was a trade off- Japan got to keep their Emperor, but the US got to make policy for the country).

The US has major bases in Japan: Yokosuka being the biggest for the Navy- with a permenantly stationed CVN. If China does become agressive- you can be sure the allies will be ready.

You read Japanese? Does it say where this proposal originates? Is it official? Fascinating indeed, if so.

Yeah I read a little Japanese… helps when you are a translator in the navy 😉

Japan can & does have a strike capability. Current JASDF aircraft are equipped for anti-shipping strike, for example.

Ohhhhh Swerve, you crack me up mate- Article 10 of the Surrender stated that Japan will give up all forms of agression and renounce all weapons that can be viewed as agressive. The weapons you call “Strike weapons” are used in a defencive posture only. ASM’s are not only a strike weapon but can also be employed to stop ships getting close to the Island Nation.

F-18C/D suggests the work of an ill-informed journalist, since it’s long out of production. Even F-18E doesn’t make sense, given that Japan has already selected F-35A. There’s enough commonality to make F-35C the logical choice. If (big if) this carrier is ever built, it won’t be until F-35C is in service, so there’d be no delay leading to a need to lease F-18s.

According to the article, the F-35 in Japan will be the J model- thus I can only conclude local content differeing to all other models (similar to the F-15J’s). Mention of the Hornets may be in a lease deal as people already know the Lightning is a slight step up from the Hornet in terms of flight performance (at least this is what Lockheed Martin say).

Could be just fanboyism run riot.

I agree, what I could read mentioned no government source thus someone has a great dream- besides, Japan wont have carriers again as these are recognised as Strike weapons and thus fall under the terms of Article 10.

It could be that the mention of the F/A-18C/Ds is with regard to cross decking with the US Navy, who of course operate these. Overall, it would make sense for them to cooperate with the UK on this, given the similarity in size etc… Who knows, perhaps they could do a deal to buy one or two slightly modified CVFs, and the UK buys a batch of P-X maritime patrol aircraft?

No the article doesn’t mention cross decking operations. As for buying CVF’s, wrong… as for the UK buying P-X, they can’t afford it.

By the time these hypothetical ships might be in service, will the USN still be flying F-18C/Ds off its carriers?

That is probable, the E’s, F’s and G’s are still new products and with the F-35 coming on line around 2016, We WILL see both pplatforms on the decks of CVN’s

You see this is called ‘ship porn’ and should be banned from decent forums such as this……

Nurse!!!…Its happening again…..bring the medication. 😉

How’s that Viagra working Jonesy, keeping the situation up and in hand mate?
:dev2::dev2::dev2::dev2::dev2::dev2::dev2:

We don’t know the tonnage figures, but based on the figures we do have (length):

JapanCV: 285m, ? tonnes
HMS QE: 284 m, 65,600 tonnes
MN CdG: 261.5 m, 42,000 tonnes

I’m not so sure about that mate, extencive use of newer materiels could produce a vessel of bigger size than the QE, but at a lighter weight, look at our (RAN) patrol boats, the Armidales are almost twice as big as the Fremantle class they replaced, but weigh only a fraction more.