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Marine Maj. Zachary Laser, F-35 Lightning II test pilot from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three, departs the flight deck of Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) in an F-35B aircraft Oct. 21, 2024, off the southern coast of California. Laser is flying the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the 5th generation aircraft for developmental test aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s largest ship. A flight test team from the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force is aboard to certify the destroyer’s modifications that will support fixed-wing operations from the ship. Data that testers gather during these sea trials will be analyzed and eventually inform decisions to enhance the capabilities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force as well as contribute to improved interoperability between Japan and the U.S. Japan is an F-35 Joint Program Office foreign military sales customer planning to buy 42 F-35Bs.