Akizuki-class destroyer (2010)

The Akizuki class of destroyers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is intended to escort the Hyūga-class and Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, and safeguard the other Aegis-capable warships such as the Kongō class and Atago class. The destroyer provides defense against surface, airborne and undersea threats. The class was initially designated as "19DD", referring to a date on the Japanese calendar, specifically the 19th fiscal year of the Heisei period (2007).

For the World War II class of the same name, see Akizuki-class destroyer (1942). For the earlier destroyer class of the JMSDF, see Akizuki-class destroyer (1959).
DD-115 Akizuki in Wakayama
Class overview
Operators:  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by: Takanami class
Succeeded by: Asahi class
Cost:
  • DD115: JPY84.4 billion[1]
  • $893 million (constant 2009 USD)
Built: 2009–2012
In commission: 2012–present
Planned: 4
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile destroyer
Displacement:
  • 5,000 tonnes standard
  • 6,800 tonnes full load
Length: 150.5 m (493 ft 9 in)
Beam: 18.3 m (60 ft 0 in)
Draft: 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)
Depth: 10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Propulsion: COGAG, two shafts, four Rolls Royce Spey SM1C turbines
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement: 200
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • ATECS (advanced technology command system)
  • OYQ-11 ACDS
  • FCS-3A AAW system
  • OQQ-22 ASW system
  • NOLQ-3D EW system
  • OPS-20C surface search radar
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × SH-60K helicopter

Design

The hull structure was based on the one of the Takanami-class destroyers. There are many small improvements, such as cleaner lines to reduce the radar signature and decoys for torpedoes; but the principal changes can be summed up as more powerful engines, sensors, sonar and the indigenous ATECS battle management system that has been called the Japanese AEGIS. The main gas turbine engines are standardized on a higher-powered version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C, in contrast to the combination of Rolls-Royce SM1C and General Electric LM2500 turbines used in the Takanami class.[2]

Equipment

The purpose of this class is to shield the Kongō class from air, surface and subsurface threats. Main features of the class include enhanced C4ISR and Anti-Aircraft Warfare (AAW) capability, with an OYQ-11 advanced Combat Direction Sub-system (CDS) and FCS-3A AAW weapon sub-system.[2]

OYQ-11
This is the first CDS adopting a fully distributed computing architecture to be implemented in general-purpose destroyers of the JMSDF. AN/UYQ-70 workstations form the basic computing platform, with Link 16 datalinks. In addition to the CDS, this class is equipped with SATCOM terminals linked to Superbird satellites, part of the Maritime Operation Force (MOF) system. The MOF system is the operational C4I system used in the fleet of the JMSDF, based on the ILOG architecture and interoperable with other JSDF forces. There are also USC-42 DAMA terminals for GCCS-M, the American counterpart of the MOF system.[3]
FCS-3A
This is a domestically developed AAW combat system. It consists of two main components, one is an dual-band and multimode active electronically scanned array radar, and the other is the fire-control system. The FCS-3A is the derivative of the FCS-3 of the Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer, changing material of its transmitter-receiver modules from gallium arsenide to gallium nitride and introducing additional Local Area Defense (LAD) capability. An ESSM SAM VLS is integrated with the FCS-3A.[4]

Anti-submarine and Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of the Akizuki class have been enhanced, with a new OQQ-22 integrated sonar suite sub-system (hull-sonar and OQR-3 towed array; - a Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89), and the NOLQ-3D digitalized EW suite sub-system. These sub-systems communicate across a NOYQ-1B wide area network. In totality these systems are comparable to those of the Zumwalt-class destroyer.[3]

  • Starboard view JS Akizuki
  • Bow view
  • Bridge detail with 2 AESA arrays
  • JS Teruzuki at Yokosuka naval base, 2013
  • JS Teruzuki (DD-116) and JS Suzutuki (DD-117) at Nagasaki shipyard

Ships in the class
Building no.Pennant no.Name/NamesakeLaid downLaunchedCommissionedShipyard
2244DD-115 Akizuki (Autumn Moon) 17 July 200913 October 2010 14 March 2012MHI, Nagasaki
2245DD-116 Teruzuki (Bright Moon) 9 July 201015 September 2011 7 March 2013MHI, Nagasaki
2246DD-117 Suzutsuki (Clear Moon) 18 May 201117 October 2012 12 March 2014MHI, Nagasaki
2247DD-118 Fuyuzuki (Winter Moon) 14 June 201122 August 2012 13 March 2014Mitsui, Tamano

References
  1. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/19dd.htm
  2. SOW editorial office (November 2010). "Technical characteristics of 19DD". Ships of the World. Kaijinn-sha (732): 84–99.
  3. Makoto Yamazaki (October 2011). "Combat systems of modern Japanese destroyers". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (748): 98–107.
  4. Keiichi Nogi (March 2010). "1. Missiles (Shipboard weapons of JMSDF 1952-2010)". Ships of the World. Kaijin-sha (721): 82–87.
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