Navy of Japan plans to commission Atago-class guided missile destroyer and Soryu-class submarine JS Oryu in March 2020.

Navy of Japan plans to commission two types of naval military equipment in March 2020, including the Atago-class guided missile destroyer and the Soryu-class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK) JS Oryu.

New Japanese Aegis missile destroyer MAYA DDG179 improved Atago-class ships returning to Yokohama after the second series of sea trials, June 2019. (Picture source Twitter account Chris Cavas)

In July 2019, Japanese shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU) Corporation has launched the second of two improved Atago-class guided missile destroyers on order for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) at its facility in Yokohama. The Atago class is an improved version of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s Kongō class guided missile destroyers.

The Atago-class destroyer is equipped with the Aegis combat system, an automated command-and-control (C2) and weapons control system that enables improved Atago-class destroyers to attack and defend against land targets, submarines, surface warships, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Aegis combat system consists of the AN/SPY-1D, an automatic detect and track, multi-function phased-array radar system. This radar is able to perform search, track, and missile guidance functions simultaneously, with a track capacity of more than 100 targets. The Aegis Baseline 9/BMD 5.1, jointly funded by the U.S. and Japanese governments, has been specifically designed for ballistic missile defense and can engage in simultaneous air and ballistic missile defense. The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $135.8 million contract for work on the development and integration of the Aegis Baseline 9 systems for the improved Atago-class of guided missile destroyers in December 2017.

The Atago-class destroyer integrates a mix of Japanese- and American-made systems, including weapons, radar and fire control into one highly efficient system, capable of controlling a fleet battle above and below the surface. The ship is equipped with 96-cell Mk.41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) with 64 cells in the forward area and 32 cells in the stern, able to fire SM-2MR Standard missiles, SM-3 anti-ballistic missiles and RUM-139 ASROC anti-submarine missiles.

Japan launches first lithium-ion battery powered Soryu-class submarine JS Oryu in October 2019 (Picture source Twitter account NavalToday)

The Soryu-Class is a diesel-electric submarine built by the Japanese companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). It is an improved version of the Oyashio Class submarine. The keel for the first Soryu-class submarine was laid down in March 2005 and launched in December 2007 and commissioned in March 2009.

On November 6, 2019, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has launched the 12th and final Soryu-class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK), the future JS Toryu. It is the sixth Soryu-class SSK hat will enter in service with the Japanese Navy. The Toryu is equipped with lithium-ion batteries making Japan the only known country to have fitted this technology into a submarine. It is also fitted with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, enabling the submarines to stay underwater for up to two weeks.

The Soryu-class is equipped with six HU-606 533 mm torpedo tubes that can fire Type 89 heavyweight homing torpedoes and UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. It has an optronic mast and ZPS-6F surface/low-level air search radar for detection of enemy ASW and maritime patrol craft, as well as the Hughes/Oki ZQQ-7 sonar suite incorporating one bow-mounted sonar array and four flank sonar arrays.

The Soryu-class submarine has a range of 6,100 nautical miles and can reportedly dive to a depth of 2,132 feet, or two-fifths of a mile.