Nikkei speculated that the GOJ is likely to call for the introduction of an aircraft carrier when it updates the National Defense Program Guidelines in December, noting that the MSDF’s Izumo helicopter destroyer will be refitted to accommodate F-35Bs, which have short take-off and vertical-landing capabilities. The remodeled destroyer will be used for air defense in the Pacific and remote island defense in the event of a contingency. As the GOJ has long maintained that Japan cannot possess an “attack aircraft carrier” under its peace-oriented Constitution, the daily projected that the opposition bloc is set to object to the planned upgrade of the warship, which could also trigger strong reactions from some of the nation’s neighbors.