According
to Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese government
will start building two Aegis-equipped destroyers with the latest missile
defense systems starting next fiscal year, in light of the progress
seen in missile development by North Koreathe. The two new vessel will
join an exisiting fleet of 6 Aegis vessels in the Japanese Maritime
Self Defense Forces (JMSDF): 4 Kongo class Destroyers and 2 Atago class
Destroyers.
It is not clear yet if the two new vessels will be a new class of destroyer
or one of the two existing classes. Navy Recognition believes
the two new hulls will be Atago class. Construction is set to begin
next year for the first vessel and in 2015 for the second hull: This
gives no time at all for any design work which would be mandatory if
JMSDF had plan for a brand new class of destroyer.
The Atago class of destroyer is an upgrade of the Kongo class. Both
vessels are fitted with the AEGIS combat system and SPY-1D radar both
produced by Lockheed Martin.
|
Atago
class
In 2000, the Japan Defense Agency Maritime Staff Office included another
two Aegis ships in its five-year budget on top of the four Kongo class
destroyers originally ordered. The Atago class is fundamentally an improved
and larger version of Kongo class destroyers.
The vessels have all of the armament of the Kongo class but received
a hangar space for to accomodate two SH-60 helicopters. Atago class
destroyers displace 10,000 tons full load. JDS Atego DD178, was commissioned
in 2007 and JDS Ashigara DD-178 was commissioned in 2008.
|