On December 8th, the Kaga sailed out with great momentum: preparing to intercept the Liaoning aircraft carrier!
On that day, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's DDH-184 Kaga, a helicopter destroyer that is effectively a light aircraft carrier, boldly departed from its home port in Ujina, Hiroshima Prefecture. According to publicly available AIS ship tracking data, this helicopter destroyer, which has completed the first phase of its conversion into an aircraft carrier, is heading southwest, likely heading towards the Western Pacific Ocean.
At almost the same time, the Liaoning aircraft carrier group was conducting regular long-range sea training in the area — the movements of both sides are highly coincident in terms of time and space.
Combined with the recent background of the J-15 locking onto the F-15, it seems that this move by the Kaga indicates a clear signal: Japan is trying to use its "light aircraft carrier" status to prepare for intercepting the northbound Liaoning aircraft carrier.
But the question is, does the Kaga actually have the capability to "intercept" the Liaoning aircraft carrier? The answer is no. Even after the modification, the Kaga's deck now has the potential to operate F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing fighter jets. However, as of now, Japan has not actually deployed F-35B jets on board. The ship's air power is still primarily composed of SH-60K anti-submarine helicopters.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier carries the J-15 heavy carrier-based fighter jet, supported by a complete combat group consisting of the 055-class destroyers and 052D-class destroyers, possessing multi-dimensional combat capabilities such as long-range strike, area air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare.
More importantly, modern naval warfare is no longer just a one-on-one duel between individual ships. Behind the Liaoning's fleet is the support of space-based reconnaissance satellites, the Airborne Early Warning-500 early warning aircraft, land-based long-range radars, and an electromagnetic spectrum monitoring system.
While Japan can rely on the U.S. intelligence-sharing network, its independent combat system remains weak. Even if the larger Izumo is also brought in, it still cannot pose a substantial threat to a systematized aircraft carrier battle group. This sortie is merely a symbolic act of defiance against failure.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851010549356873/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.