改修終えた「かが」初公開　Ｆ３５搭載で艦首変更、空母化へ―海自

　海上自衛隊は８日、ステルス戦闘機「Ｆ３５Ｂ」の運用に向けた１次改修を終えた護衛艦「かが」を報道公開した。Ｆ３５Ｂが発着艦できるよう約２年間かけて甲板を耐熱化し、台形だった艦首の形状も長方形に変更された。「空母化」に向けた改修で、完了後の公開は初。
　甲板はＦ３５Ｂが垂直着陸する際の熱に耐えられる塗装が施され、艦尾から艦首まで一直線に伸びる黄色いラインなど発艦時の目印となる標識もペイントされた。艦首の形状変更は発艦時の乱気流抑制と滑走距離の確保が狙いという。
　記者会見した国分一郎艦長は、「これだけの大きな（改修）工事は海自にとって初めてだ」と述べた上で、「機能を駆使し、日本の安全保障に尽力できるよう努めたい」と話した。（2024/04/08-15:43）

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force unveiled to the media Monday the Kaga destroyer after completing the first stage of work to turn the vessel into a "flattop" for F-35B stealth fighter jets.
   During the two years of work to upgrade the Kaga, the helicopter-carrying destroyer's flat deck was coated with heat-resistant paint so it can withstand the exhaust heat from the vertical takeoff and landing fighters to be acquired by the Defense Ministry. Markings for takeoffs, including a yellow line drawn straight from stern to bow, were also painted on the deck.
   The shape of its bow was changed from trapezoid to rectangle to curb the turbulence that occurs when the aircraft hop off and also to secure the safe takeoff distance for them.
   The Kaga is one of the two Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, the MSDF's biggest vessels. It is 248 meters long and has a standard displacement of 19,950 tons.
   "It is the first time for the MSDF to undertake such big (modification) work," Capt. Ichiro Kokubu, the Kaga's commander, told a press conference in the city of Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.