Sincerely striving for an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as the nation's sovereign right and the threat or use of military force as a means of settling international disputes.
- Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan
Launch of the destroyer-helicopter carrier Izumo on the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 6, 2013). With a length of 248 meters and a total displacement of 27 thousand tons, the Izumo became the largest of the Japanese warships built after 1945.
The choice of the name for the new Japanese "aircraft carrier" is noteworthy. "Izumo" is named in memory of the armored cruiser of the Imperial Navy, which took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War, and later, during World War II, who perfidiously shot American and British ships in the port of Shanghai.
Launch of the space interceptor SM-3 from the missile destroyer "Congo" (2007)
Missile destroyer Mioko equipped with the Aegis combat information and control system. Structurally, "Mioko" is a copy of the American destroyer "Arleigh Burke", but at the same time has a number of "national" differences.
Air defense destroyer Akizuki (October 2012). Second for those. perfection ship in its class, after the British "Daring". OPS-50 radar with eight active phased array and 32 missile launchers, each of which can contain 4 ESSM anti-aircraft missiles. Total in the period from 2009 to 2014. 4 ships of this type were built
Destroyers of the Akizuki class were created specifically for joint operations with large Aegis destroyers. The main task: tracking the horizon and intercepting low-flying air targets, while their "big brothers" (destroyers "Atago" and "Congo" with AN / SPY-1 radars) control the stratosphere and low Earth orbits.
Destroyer-helicopter carrier "Hyuga" (commissioned in 2009). Length 200 meters, displacement 19 thousand tons. Despite the size anomalous for a destroyer, "Hyuga" is still too small for the full-fledged basing of VTOL aircraft on it. The Japanese themselves position the ship as a universal helicopter carrier capable of equally solving the tasks of anti-submarine defense, carrying out patrol service, conducting demining, and also ensuring the conduct of sea search and rescue operations.
"Hyuga" is equipped with a complex of built-in weapons, similar to that installed on the "Akizuki" (with a reduced number of UVP). The concept is close to the Soviet anti-submarine cruisers pr. 1123.
Destroyer "Atago" near
Six destroyers of the Japanese Naval Self-Defense Forces on a friendly visit to Pearl Harbor (international naval exercise RIMPAC). Ahead are four Murasame-class URO destroyers. Also visible are the silhouettes of the destroyers "Atago" and "Simakadze"
One of the most unusual ships of the Japanese fleet ASE-6102 JDS Asuka. The Japanese have spared no expense to build a test bench the size of a real destroyer. Equipment and weapons are constantly changing. If necessary, it can be turned into a full-fledged combat unit
Soryu-class non-nuclear submarine equipped with an air-independent propulsion system according to the Stirling principle (liquefied oxygen is used as an oxidizer). Able to not rise to the surface for two weeks. In terms of the totality of its performance characteristics, it is not inferior to a nuclear submarine, in terms of stealth it has an absolute advantage over any nuclear submarine.
Landing ship-dock "Osumi" with a continuous flight deck, designed to receive heavy transport helicopters
UDC "Osumi" at the pier
Fleet tanker of the "Masha" type
P-3C Orion base anti-submarine aircraft
Marine patrol (anti-submarine) aircraft Kawasaki P-1. A set of anti-ship missiles is visible on the external sling. Machines of this type should replace the outdated Orions. Since 2008, the Air Force of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces managed to receive 13 Kawasaki P-1 (plan - 70)
Icebreaker Shiraze, included in the Self-Defense Navy in 2009. Used to support missions in Antarctica
Epilogue
No comments were originally planned for this article. The illustrations are excellent evidence of the real state of affairs. The Japanese navy (already without the sanctimonious prefix "self-defense") is the third most powerful in the Asia-Pacific region. Leaving aside the nuclear component of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's navy, the Japanese navy will undoubtedly break into second place, losing only to the US 7th Fleet. On the side of the samurai are absolute technical superiority, excellent training of sailors and impeccable quality of ships, complemented by their balanced composition. Japan is only one step away from possession of nuclear weapons and long-range cruise missiles - the forbidden article of the Constitution, about which the Japanese military leadership has long since wiped its feet.
Panoramas of the Kure naval base
