To convert the vessel for fast jet operation looking at ripping up the deck,
The Deck wouldn't require any major structural work, they have admitted it was designed with a long term view to possible F-35B ops.
fitting jet blast deflectors,
Not required for the 'B. The Wasp class don't have them, neither do the QECs.
a ski jump,
Which is a simple steel structure with no moving parts which, granted weighs a couple of hundred tonnes;
reinforcing and insulating the landing spots for the jets,
Yes but this isn't a huge task,
new tie down spots for the deck park,
There are plenty of tie down spots already. Helicopters use them too.
refitting the workshops,
Re equipping the existing workshops would be more accurate. They are already designed to service modern gas turbine powered aircraft with advanced avionics. It would just be a new type to add to the inventory.
re-ballasting because a couple of hundred extra tons just been added to the nose then some sea trials,
Yes but again not a difficult task. Warships go through that every time they come out of refit.
that's assuming the existing fuel lines, avgas tankage, munitions stores and ammo lifts are already sized and sited appropriately and don't need any re-work.
The F-35Bs use the same fuel and the same fuel connections as other naval and military aircraft. The Japanese have admitted this was planned from the start
Unless it's all scheduled in and the parts ordered (pretty sure JBDs aren't available off the shelf and the guys at Screwfix (other DIY outlets available) would be a little bemused if someone popped in with an order for 40,000L of thermal 'paint'
) it's going to take a wee while. To provide some context, HMS illustrious's mid 2003 refit in Rosyth which involved a total rebuild of the ski jump and reconfiguring the ship so that it can be more quickly switched between acting as a light aircraft carrier and helicopter carrier, took 18 months and that was planned.
Yes the ski jump was rebuilt, in part to improve accommodation available (yes there were quite a few bunks in there). Yje magazine alterations were mainly to provide secure racking for infantry weapons as an alternative fit to her usual load of Sidewinders, AMRAAMs, Depth Charges and Torpedoes. She could switch between either role at short notice. She was also having an overhaul of most of her systems as well (propulsion, radars, communications, hotel services etc) hence the length of her refit. 18 months is actually fairly average for a refit on that scale.
Then there's the small matter of who's going to give up their production slots to let the Japanese jump the queue and have some F35Bs that they haven't yet ordered!
Japan has slots booked. They could switch some of the orders from As to Bs given sufficient lead in time.
Joking aside it's nothing insurmountable, but even if the ships were designed with Jets in mind you are still looking at needing a huge amount of goodwill all round for it to happen quickly from a standing start. So I think its more re-assurance for a domestic Japanese audience then out and out deterrence against the Chinese as it's really not that credible, right now once they have something they like, the Chinese seem to just churn out ships like the proverbial sausage machine so you'd be foolhardy to engage them in a race if you didn't have to!
My point being Japan is already in this race with a 'get out of Jail free' card up their sleeve. They are already looking th Chinese in the eyes and saying "If you try to use your carriers with Soviet era junk on their decks to dominate the region, we will deploy fifth gen jets from our flat tops and your great investment will just be target practice." until then they can maintain their virtuous 'defensive' posture and retain the moral high ground.
