TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Problem with F-35B, AV-8B don' t have special thermal coating a bit expensive but in Asia Pacific area make sense Izumos and Canberras are later equiped with F-35B
The thermal coating debate in the case of the Japanese is a non issue as the Japanese will have to apply the thermal coatings eventually. No if ands or buts.Why you ask?The Thermal coating issue is held up often but really isn't a big deal. The ship's decks could be recovered in under a month if needed, during a scheduled refit if need be.
This is as the Japanese Self defence force has procured 17 V22 Ospreys for their use. The V22 Osprey engines produce similar heat stresses on flat top decks demanding the same heat treating. Ergo The Japanese Flat tops will likely be operating Osprey, so they will be heat treated and capable of operating F35Bs if need be.
additionally the heat issues are not as bad as often claimed. It's not that if a F35B lands on the deck the deck melts unto the compartments below. F35B can take off and land on untreated decks a number of times before the deck is damaged to the point of requiring repair. as I posted above a JMSDF flat top without the coating landed and took of a V22. It's a matter of prolonged use. V22 or F35B could take of and land dozens of times on that deck before it becomes a problem.