TSAMTO, October 19. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) announced the launching ceremony of the SS-516 Raigei-class submarine, which took place on October 17 at the Kobe Shipyard in Kobe.
The new submarine is designed for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces.
Raigei is the fourth Taigei-class submarine and the 31st NAPL built at Kawasaki Kobe after World War II.
It is expected that "Raygey", the construction cost of which is estimated at 70.2 billion. yen ($470 million), will be adopted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces in March 2025. As stated, this submarine will be the first to be equipped with two Kawasaki 12V 25/31 diesel engines of increased power instead of the previously used Kawasaki 12V 25/25SB.
As reported by TSAMTO, in the summer of 2019, the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) began construction of a new class of 29SS, SS-513 "Taigei". The submarine was launched in October 2020. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces adopted the NAPL in March 2022. In accordance with the "Guidelines of the National Defense Program for 2019 and Beyond", published in December 2018, the Taigei will be used as a test submarine.
The second NPL of the series, SS-514 "Hakugei", was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). She was transferred to the Maritime Self-Defense Forces on March 20, 2023.
The launching of the third submarine, (SS-515) Jingei, took place at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries company in Kobe in October 2022.
Construction of the fourth NAPL series began at the KHI enterprise on March 26, 2021.
Approved by the government on December 18, 2018, the "Medium-term Defense Program" (MTDP), designed for five years (2019-2023), provides for the construction of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh submarines of a new class. The final decision on the number of purchased NAPS has not yet been made.
The length of the Taigei class is 84.5 m, the width is 9.1 m, the estimated draft is about 10.4 m, the standard displacement is about 3000 tons, the crew is 70 people. The submarine is equipped with lithium-ion batteries instead of lead-acid batteries, which will allow you to stay underwater for a longer time. The design uses new sound-absorbing materials, an anti-torpedo protection system is installed to increase survivability. The Taigei is equipped with two Kawasaki diesel engines and can reach a maximum speed of up to 20 knots. The new NAPS will also be equipped with a new generation sonar system, which was installed on the last four submarines of the Soryu class (from the 8th to the 12th NAPS).
Six 533-mm HU-606 torpedo tubes will allow the use of a new version of the Type-18 heavy torpedo, in addition to the Type-89, or UGM-84L Harpoon Block.2.
The NAF has a reduced electromagnetic and acoustic signature and will be equipped with a new combat control system (CMS), the capabilities of which the command of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces does not disclose. The project of the Taigei-class submarine for the first time provides for a cabin for six female crew members.
