Photos show a US F-35B operating on Japan's newly converted destroyer-turned-aircraft carrier off the Californian coast.

Short take-off and landing stealth fighters from a US Navy test squadron made the F-35s type's first landing on the JS Kaga - a converted helicopter carrier officially labelled as a multi-functional destroyer by Tokyo and Washington.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force is conducting tests to determine if there are issues with such aircraft taking off from the vessel while verifying other procedures.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter has for the first time operated aboard Japan’s biggest in-service warship, the Izumo class ‘multifunctional destroyer’ Kaga. At the same time, there are signs that Japan may also be looking to expand the fixed-wing capabilities of this class of vessel,

In a groundbreaking military milestone off the coast of San Diego, a U.S. Navy F-35B fighter jet successfully landed on Japan’s largest warship, the JS Kaga, for the first time. The test, conducted over the weekend,

By bno - Tokyo Office In a significant advancement for Japan's naval capabilities, a US military F-35B stealth fighter jet successfully landed on the Japanese destroyer Kaga off the coast of San Diego on October 20.

Japan has remained in a formal state of war with Russia for years due to the dispute over the Kuril Islands. The Kaijō Jieitai, or Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, celebrated the first landing of an F-35B on the deck of the JS Kaga during sea trials off the coast of San Diego.

Due to the ongoing dispute over the Kuril Islands, Japan has been in a formal state of tension with Russia for years. The Kaijō Jieitai, or the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, recently showcased the first landing of an F-35B on the deck of the JS Kaga during sea trials near San Diego.