Japan Might Build 'Super' Destroyers. Why? Think North Korea and China.

[Beidou2020]

How many Type 055 cruisers and Type 095 SSNs Will the PLAN have by 2030?

 

[GHALIB]

Japan Might Build 'Super' Destroyers. Why? Think North Korea and China.

Tokyo is now considering the feasibility of procuring two "super-destroyers."

nationalinterest.org

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force increasingly resembles the former Imperial Japanese Navy, but in a smaller size. It has a fleet of some 154 ships and operates 346 aircraft. In 2000 it has also been the world's fourth-largest navy by tonnage, and likely will only increase in size.

In December 2018, Tokyo approved a plan to modify its two Izumo-class helicopter carriers to embark the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II jet fighter. The modifications would enable Japan to operate flattops with fixed-wing aircraft for the first time since World War II. The Japanese government also announced as part of its record-setting defense budget it would purchase additional F-35 aircraft.


With an eventual plan to be equipped with 105 F-35As and 42 F-35Bs, Japan would become the largest operator of the fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft outside of the United States.

Not Battleships But The Next Best Thing


One type of warship the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force won't operate is a battleship, and there are no plans for a 21st-century version of the Yamato super battleship.

However, according to a recent report from TheDrive, citing Japanese media, Tokyo is now considering the feasibility of procuring two "super-destroyers." Such warships – much like the modified flattops – would seem to be in contradiction of Japan's 1947 Constitution, which renounced war, but is also seen to suggest that Japan's military forces are maintained for the purpose of self-defense.

In this case, however, the super-destroyers would serve as a replacement to the pair of planned land-based Aegis Ashore systems. Work on those was suspended due to technical issues, costs and domestic criticism. The destroyers would be focused on missile defense – primarily from North Korea – and would be equipped with a version of the Aegis combat system that is equipped with Lockheed Martin's AN/SPY-7 Long Range Discrimination Radar. That platform was originally intended for the shore-based Aegis system.

Nikkei Asia reported that the funding for the system modifications of the AN/SPY-7 will be allocated in Japan's fiscal 2021 budget.

While the Defense Ministry has been expected to approve the vessels, based on an interim report that is due later this month from a private-sector technical study, officials have also considered the option of a special-purpose warship that could be dedicated to intercepting missiles. However, despite the fact that such a vessel would cost less, it could be far more vulnerable to submarine and air attacks.


The other consideration is that even as North Korean missiles are seen as the primary threat, Japan has other priorities that include patrolling the East China Sea due to increased Chinese aggression, and new Aegis-equipped destroyers could be a practical addition to the fleet due to their maneuverability and defenses.

One issue outstanding could be that of personnel. Tokyo opted for the Aegis Ashore system to address the lack of personnel, but now the Maritime SDF may need to be further expanded with the addition of such warships.

A New Class

Yet to come into focus is whether Tokyo would opt to build a new warship or a derivative of vessels currently in the fleet. TheDrive cited a report from Tokyo's Kyodo News agency, which suggested that the government was considering a vessel with a standard displacement of around 8,000 tons – which would be larger than the current Maya-class's displacement of 8,200 tons.


The Maya-class is a modified version of the Atago-class, and the lead vessel Maya was commissioned on March 19, 2020, with a second vessel, Haguro, set to enter service in March of next year. These vessels were also designed to enhance Japan's ballistic missile defense capabilities, but now it seems that Tokyo is thinking even bigger.

very good news for quad nations .

 

[Oldman1]

I can see why they canceled the Aegis land based system and leaning towards mobile ships with Aegis capability.

 

[Suika]

When they cancelles aegis-ashore, I was disappointed, but when they mentioned they were considering 3 alternative options that were either BMD destroyer, a BMD barge sort of thing, or BMD off shore rig, I was hoping for the destroyer option for greater survivability and usability. I would have expected just a 3rd and 4th Maya. Not something larger though. So sounds good in my opinion.

 

[bshifter]

30 to 40 year old designs are still enough to scare the hell out of the Chinese for sure. One 40 year old design ship blew out a satellite. So not sure what your point is.

Actually it is the other way around when it comes to being frightened. During an interview last year a (former) US Admiral said the West has no chance to survive the onslaught from China in a war for Taiwan. You could hear it in his voice and the words he used. It is on youtube do you want me to share it with you? I did not want to humiliate Americans so i have not posted it yet. But if you do not believe me and seeing is believing i will happily share it. He was extremely worried and his message was clear, seek cooperation with China.

 

[Oldman1]

Actually it is the other way around when it comes to being frightened. During an interview last year a (former) US Admiral said the West has no chance to survive the onslaught from China in a war for Taiwan. You could hear it in his voice and the words he used. It is on youtube do you want me to share it with you? I did not want to humiliate Americans so i have not posted it yet. But if you do not believe me and seeing is believing i will happily share it. He was extremely worried and his message was clear, seek cooperation with China.

Seems to me that they aren't listening to him since the shipyards are building more ships and subs then.

 

[bshifter]

Seems to me that they aren't listening to him since the shipyards are building more ships and subs then.

US can build more ships, that is not the point he was making. He said the West will not survive in that war meaning not only the present time but also the future. So you think he does not know US is building new ships? He was an Admiral not some nobody like you who is convinced China today and in the future cannot get Taiwan back.

 

[Oldman1]

US can build more ships, that is not the point he was making. He said the West will not survive in that war meaning not only the present time but also the future. So you think he does not know US is building new ships? He was an Admiral not some nobody like you who is convinced China today and in the future cannot get Taiwan back.

Former admiral. Unless he is in the know and consulting with the U.S. military, he hasn't realize the U.S. Navy is still building more ships, Marines and Army are planning to obtain IRBMs and long range land and anti ship missiles, USAF planning hypersonic missiles, pretty much what it is to handle against China. As I have told a Chinese poster on the issue of possible conflict over Taiwan, China has about 10 years to do something about it before the window closes once the U.S. has deployed these weapons to counter any threat China has.

 

[bshifter]

Former admiral. Unless he is in the know and consulting with the U.S. military, he hasn't realize the U.S. Navy is still building more ships, Marines and Army are planning to obtain IRBMs and long range land and anti ship missiles, USAF planning hypersonic missiles, pretty much what it is to handle against China. As I have told a Chinese poster on the issue of possible conflict over Taiwan, China has about 10 years to do something about it before the window closes once the U.S. has deployed these weapons to counter any threat China has.

Wait a minute are you saying he is now totally out of touch with the US military there is no way he could have known the US is building more ships but you do? So you must be serving in the US military then. So are you an Admiral?

 

[Viet]

Japan should build battleships.
Like Yamato.

 

[Oldman1]

Wait a minute are you saying he is now totally out of touch with the US military there is no way he could have known the US is building more ships but you do? So you must be serving in the US military then. So are you an Admiral?

Don't need to be an admiral to know whats going on. From where I'm sitting, they are not listening to his pleas about cooperating with China.

 

[bshifter]

Don't need to be an admiral to know whats going on. From where I'm sitting, they are not listening to his pleas about cooperating with China.

What a way to dodge the question. Hardly convincing with this kind of answer. Not confirming you are in the military right now just saying you are sitting somewhere behind the desk. Keyboard warrior?

 

[Oldman1]

What a way to dodge the question. Hardly convincing with this kind of answer. Not confirming you are in the military right now just saying you are sitting somewhere behind the desk. Keyboard warrior?

Dodge the question? I just said don't need to be an admiral, in other words I'm not military. And you don't have to be in the military to know what going on right now. Even some military experts never served in the military and they are considered experts in military journals and vlogs and news right?

 

[bshifter]

Dodge the question? I just said don't need to be an admiral, in other words I'm not military. And you don't have to be in the military to know what going on right now. Even some military experts never served in the military and they are considered experts in military journals and vlogs and news right?

And you just claimed a former US Admiral does not know the US is building ships and you who is not in the military know all about it. Where is your credibility then?

 

[Oldman1]

And you just claimed a former US Admiral does not know the US is building ships and you who is not in the military know all about it. Where is your credibility then?

My credibility is that he is a former admiral which means he doesn't get access to know what the U.S. plans are, organization or the technology know how. Do you think he know the location of all the subs? No. Do you think he as a former admiral can tell the Pentagon what to do? No. In other words his has no influence, and from where I'm sitting, the U.S. military is ignoring his pleas in dealing with China.