Opinion: Should we modify our aircraft carriers?

In stark contrast, the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) which are among the most advanced amphibious warfare vessels in the world, remain little more than glorified humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and amphibious warfare ships, with little capacity to serve in a larger role than a taxi. This approach overlooks the integral role these ships can and should play in Australia’s maritime power projection and our now-stated “strategy of denial” as outlined in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.

With the recent upgrades to Japan’s Izumo-class LHDs to operate F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jets, Australia may find itself at a pivotal juncture to reevaluate its naval aviation capabilities. Analysing Japan’s decision to modernise its amphibious assault ships offers valuable insights into why Australia should consider upgrading its Canberra-class LHDs to deploy F-35B fighters.

Japan’s Izumo-class upgrade

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operates two Izumo-class LHDs: JS Izumo and JS Kaga. Originally intended as helicopter carriers, these vessels were designed with large flight decks for vertical operations but without fixed-wing aviation capabilities. However, under growing regional security pressures, especially from China and North Korea, Japan made the strategic decision to modify these ships to operate F-35B Lightning II aircraft.

This transformation involved structural reinforcements, heat-resistant coatings for the flight decks (to withstand the high temperatures produced by the F-35B’s jet exhaust), and enhancements to the ship’s aviation support infrastructure. With these upgrades, Japan effectively repurposed its LHDs into light aircraft carriers, significantly enhancing their force projection capabilities.

Highlighting this, former Japanese minister for defense, Takeshi Iwaya, said: “The Izumo-class aircraft carrier role is to strengthen the air defense in the Pacific Ocean and to ensure the safety of the Self-Defense Force pilots.” Australia, like Japan, operates in a region defined by rapid military modernisation and evolving threats, particularly from China’s growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific. As a key regional actor and US ally, Australia’s defence strategy increasingly emphasises deterrence through power projection and interoperability and interchangeability with key allied forces.

The RAAF already operates the F-35A, but its LHDs cannot deploy fixed-wing aircraft. Upgrading these ships to handle F-35B jets would offer significant operational benefits, especially in the current strategic environment.

The regional balance of power

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been expanding both its carrier-based aviation and amphibious assault capabilities. Meanwhile, the US Navy and Marine Corps have embraced the F-35B as a core asset aboard their amphibious assault ships. Japan’s recent upgrades ensure that it can also project air power without relying on land bases. If Australia does not similarly upgrade its own capabilities, it risks falling behind in regional force projection, while also effectively limiting our interoperability and interchangeability opportunities with allies in the region.

While Australia regularly participates in joint operations with the US and Japan, both of which operate F-35Bs, by upgrading the Canberra-class LHDs to handle these jets, the RAN would align its capabilities with key allies. This enhances joint force operations, allowing Australian amphibious ships to embark allied F-35Bs if needed, and increases Australia’s contribution to collective security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific.

Power projection and deterrence

Australia’s strategic geography poses unique challenges, especially when considering the vast distances involved in potential conflict scenarios in the Pacific or Indian Ocean. The ability to deploy fixed-wing aircraft from its LHDs would give Australia a much-needed rapid response air capability, without overtaxing the nation’s limited number of refuelling tankers. The F-35B’s combination of low observability, sensor suite and sensor fusion, coupled with its multi-role capabilities (air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance) would provide Australia with a flexible tool for both deterrence and direct combat, supplementing land-based air power and offering greater operational range.

Benefits of Canberra-class upgrades

Enhanced flexibility in operations: The addition of F-35Bs would drastically change the operational profile of Australia’s Canberra-class LHDs. Originally designed for helicopter operations and amphibious assault, these ships are currently limited to rotorcraft and tiltrotor aircraft like the MV-22 Osprey.

While helicopters are useful for amphibious landings and disaster relief, the F-35B would introduce a new layer of capability for higher-end warfare. With the ability to conduct offensive strike missions, air defence, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), the Canberra-class LHDs would evolve from amphibious assault ships into light aircraft carriers, extending their range of operations. This flexibility is particularly important in Australia’s vast maritime domain, where the ability to project power across distant island chains or into contested environments is critical.

Distributed lethality: Australia has committed to the concept of distributed lethality – dispersing its combat capabilities across a variety of platforms to make them less vulnerable to concentrated enemy attacks. Currently, the RAN’s air defence and strike capabilities are concentrated on its Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates. Upgrading the Canberra-class LHDs for F-35B operations would diversify Australia’s ability to strike targets, complicating an adversary’s targeting and reducing the pressure on existing airbases and surface combatants.

Expanded humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities: While the F-35B is primarily a military asset, its integration does not preclude the Canberra-class LHDs from maintaining their humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) missions. The F-35B’s advanced ISR capabilities can provide invaluable real-time intelligence and co-ordination during disaster relief efforts. Additionally, the F-35B’s ability to deploy from sea-based platforms enables quicker response times in remote or devastated areas where airbases may be unavailable or non-operational.

While upgrading the Canberra class isn’t without its challenges or costs associated with extensive structural modifications including reinforcing the flight deck to withstand the heat and stress of jet operations, enhancing aviation fuel storage, and upgrading maintenance facilities onboard, these challenges certainly aren’t insurmountable. For context, Japan’s upgrades are broken up into two distinct phases, the upgrades have cost Japan, approximately ¥23.4 billion or US$153 million ($229.2 million per ship) separate from the costs associated with the training and acquisition of the requisite aircraft.

But, importantly as a mechanism for strengthening the strategic relationship between Japan and Australia, we have a partner with a proven track record of upgrading similar vessels to fill this role and doing so for a reasonable cost, in a reasonable time frame. While Australia would need to train aircrew and deck personnel to operate F-35Bs in a maritime environment, adding to the overall complexity of the program, Japan, South Korea the US, and further abroad, Italy and the UK, are all capable of helping Australia build this capability.

So we don’t have to go it alone!

Importantly, Australia also has an outstanding order of 28 F-35s as part of our initial AIR 6000 2A/2B to bring the nation’s fifth-generation fighter fleet to 100 airframes, with the added advantage of the ’B’ variant providing increased tactical and strategic flexibility. Despite the challenges, the upgrade of the Canberra-class LHDs to operate F-35Bs is a strategic imperative for Australia. In an increasingly competitive Indo-Pacific, the ability to project power, enhance interoperability with allies, and safeguard Australia’s national interests will be paramount.

By following Japan’s example with the Izumo-class upgrades, Australia could ensure that its LHDs remain at the cutting edge of regional maritime power and as formidable, active contributors in our “strategy of denial” for decades to come.