Japanese ships can be distinguished by the perfect condition of their decks and sides. Beauty is achieved in two ways: 1) traditional Japanese neatness and attention to detail; 2) extremely young age, which for many ships does not exceed 10 years.
In just one decade, the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has been replenished with 10 new destroyers.
The update takes place imperceptibly, without unnecessary noise and promises to build N ships by … the eleventh year.
Four are classified as helicopter destroyers. With a solid flight deck and dimensions clearly larger than those of conventional destroyers. But this is not the Mistral either. Japanese helicopter carriers are intended for operations on the high seas, as part of high-speed squadrons of warships. In their concept, they are close to the Soviet aircraft-carrying cruisers (TAVKr pr. 1143), adjusted for their smaller size and more balanced characteristics for solving clearly defined missions (PLO).
From the destroyers they got an impressive set of detection equipment (radars with AFAR, sonars). And anti-submarine helicopter carriers of the "Hyuuga" type also have a not weak defensive complex, 60 medium-range anti-aircraft missiles.
Two destroyers (type "Atago") - enlarged copies of American "Berks", equipped with the "Aegis" system and 90 launchers for missiles and space interceptors SM-3.
The last four are Akizuki-class missile destroyers (commissioned in 2012-2014). Small for their class (7000 tons), but equipped with the most modern electronics. Sharpened for the detection of low-flying targets.
The appearance of these ships completed the formation of the air defense contour of the Japanese formations. In this scheme, "melee destroyers" cover the "senior in rank" - ships equipped with the "Aegis" system, which are responsible for intercepting targets at high altitudes.
No one else has such a competent system, not even the US Navy.
But in less than a couple of years, the Japanese launched another destroyer of a new type (design DD25), named "Asahi". In honor of the battleship during the Russo-Japanese War.
Who does not speak, who speaks does not
The appearance of "Asahi" came as a surprise even to those who closely follow the construction of warships around the world. Yes, this was only vague rumors about the development of two series of the latest destroyers - the budget DD25 and the promising DD27, combining conventional weapons with weapons on new physical. principles. Without specifying specific characteristics and the number of ships under construction.
However, today the amount of information has not increased much.
JS Asahi, tail number “119”. The length of the hull is 151 m, the width is 18.3 m. The standard displacement is 5100 tons. The total displacement is within 7000 tons. The main feature is a new type of sonar, the name and characteristics of which were not disclosed.
Everything else is the conclusions drawn from the presented photographs.
First of all, it should be noted that the Japanese still managed to build a destroyer that does not look like an aircraft carrier.
Based on the statements, the main purpose of Asahi will be anti-submarine defense. The design of the destroyer does not contain a large number of innovative solutions. DD25 is the next step in the development of Japanese destroyers in the 2010s. ("Hyuga", "Izumo", "Akizuki"), carrying similar combat systems and detection equipment.
On the outer surfaces of the superstructure, elements of a characteristic shape are visible - places for installing antennas for a multifunctional radar, like the FCS-3A. Radar complex, consisting of eight active phased array. Four perform detection functions, four - missile guidance. The system is designed to repel attacks in the near zone using low-flying anti-ship missiles.
The Combat Information System (BIUS) will most likely be represented by the ATECS system.
Advanced technology command system (ATECS) is an independent Japanese development that takes into account all the technical nuances and tactics of using ships, also known as the "Japanese Aegis".
The capabilities of the new Asahi coincide with the previous Akizuki project. The main difference is in the installation of a new sonar, the characteristics of which, as noted above, are classified. There are no GAS images in the presented images. Perhaps we are talking about a towed low frequency antenna and / or an antenna with a variable immersion depth. With the corresponding changes made to the destroyer CICS.
In the aft part of the superstructure there is a helicopter hangar and a landing pad.
Armament - according to the established tradition, 32 or 16 below-deck launchers. You don't need to focus on quantity. Like all modern ships, "Asahi" will be structurally underutilized in order to save money in peacetime. If necessary, the number of airborne weapons and other weapons on board can increase unpredictably.
Despite the lack of information on the exact composition of the weapons, the meaning of the appearance of these ships is beyond doubt. The Japanese concept provides for the creation of an echeloned defense (air defense / anti-aircraft defense) for areas of combat maneuvering of ships performing missile defense missions.
The Japanese are equally well aware of the threat posed by modern low-flying missiles and submarines. Hence, a series of multifunctional destroyers with advanced defensive capabilities, in parallel with which high-speed helicopter carriers are being built with squadrons of anti-submarine helicopters.
In fact, few people realize that in the field of anti-submarine defense, the Japanese fleet has long been in first place in the world.
And in other respects, it is already catching up with the American fleet. To date, the Japanese self-defense navy includes 30 ocean-going warships with missile weapons.
Despite the seeming variety of destroyer types, all combat complexes, systems and mechanisms are strictly unified. So, all the ships of the latest series ("Hyuga", "Izumo", "Akizuki", "Asahi") carry the same set of sensors and CIUS. Gas turbine power plants are represented by only two types of turbines - manufactured under license LM2500 and Rolls-Royce Sprey. Standard MK.41 launchers are used to store and launch missiles of all types.
The surface component of the Japanese Navy is strictly defensive. Despite the presence of a certain number of anti-ship missiles ("Type 90" of their own design), Japanese destroyers do not carry strike weapons in the form of long-range missiles. Officially, this is due to an article in the Japanese constitution that prohibits the creation of such systems. There is also a modern principle in which strike missions are considered the prerogative of submarines and aircraft.
Whenever the topic touches the Japanese fleet, the public has associations with the Russo-Japanese War and Tsushima. The wound inflicted in that battle cannot heal for over 100 years. The reason was a deafening defeat from those who were considered "funny macaques" and helpless vassals of Great Britain.
Gentlemen, repetition of Tsushima is not possible these days. This requires that both sides have ships, and not just one.
In the Tsushima battle, as well as during the battle in the Yellow Sea, Russian and Japanese squadrons fought. Consisting of ships of equal strength, built at the same time, at the same technical level. At the same time, at the beginning of the last century, the Japanese had not yet observed such a clear numerical superiority over the Russian fleet.
