Japan launches its first Taigei-Class Diesel/Electric attack submarine for Japanese Navy.

According to a Tweet released by the Japanese MoD (Ministry of Defense) on October 13, 2020, the Japanese Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi has attended the official ceremony for the launching of the first Taigei-Class Diesel/Electric propulsion attack submarine at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) shipyard.
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The new Japanese navy Taigei-class submarine. (Picture source Twitter account Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces)

The Taigei-class submarines (29SS) is a new class of Diesel/Electric attack submarines developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). It's the successor to the Sōryū-class submarine.

The design of the Taigei-Class submarine is very similar to the Sōryū-class submarine, but it will be 100 tons heavier than its predecessor. It is planned that the new submarine will entered in service with the Japanese Navy in March 2022. The Taigei will be the first in the new Taigei class category following by the Oyashio and Soryu.

Japanese Navy currently operates nine 2,750 ton Oyashio class submarines and 11 2,950 ton Soryu class submarines and is planning to introduce a 12th Soryu class submarine next year.

The Taigei-Class submarine has a length of 84,0 m, a beam of 9.1 m, and a draught of 10.4m. It has a displacement of 3,000 tons. This new submarine is powered by a Diesel/Electric propulsion using Lithium-Ion batteries. The armament consists of six HU-606 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes able to launch Type 89 torpedo and Harpoon anti-ship missile.

The Type 89 is a Japanese submarine-launched homing torpedo produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It is a wire-guided torpedo that features both active and passive homing modes fitted with a warhead of 295 kg.

The A/U/RGM-84 Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. The Harpoon's active radar guidance, warhead design, low-level cruise trajectory, and terminal mode sea-skim or pop-up maneuvers assure high survivability and effectiveness. The missile is capable of being launched from surface ships, submarines, shore batteries, or aircraft (without the booster). It has a maximum range of 124 km.