The Diplomat:
Three ships of Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) departed on August 26th for a two-month deployment to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
A JMSDF statement says that the deployment seeks to improve its own operational capability and promote interoperability and cooperation with partner navies, while contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The flotilla includes the helicopter destroyer Kaga, and the escort destroyers Inazuma and Suzutsuki, and will make port calls in the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
The Kaga is Japan’s largest warship, and the second of the Izumo-class of helicopter destroyer. While Japan classifies them as “destroyers,” the Izumos and their predecessor the Hyuga-class, have more in common with “big deck” amphibious assault ships – small helicopter carriers designed to deliver Marines ashore in an air assault.
Kaga’s sister-ship, the Izumo, made a similar deployment last summer, where it conducted exercises with the U.S. Navy.
