Image source: topwar.ru
The Japanese Maritime Self—Defense Force (JMSDF) is going to purchase two new type of anti-missile ships - ASEV. These ships are to replace the outdated missile defense system of the Aegis Ashore land base.
According to the plan, the first ASEV ship will be commissioned by the end of March 2028, and the second by the end of March 2029.
The defense white paper for 2024, published on July 12, 2024, presents a detailed design of the ASEV ship. Apparently, the design of the bridge repeats the design of the Maya-class destroyers, but with horizontal glazing, like the Mogami-class frigates (FFM). This makes it possible to improve visibility and place fewer personnel on the bridge by reducing the number of personnel.
ASEV's main armament will be similar to Maya-class ships, including the Mk-45 main gun (Mod.4) 5 inch caliber in 62 caliber (127 mm). It is unknown whether equipment similar to the electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) OAX-3 sensors installed on FFM will be installed on the ship to improve the all-round view.
These ships are planned to be equipped with Lockheed Martin's AN/SPY-7(V)1 real-time tracking radar, which was originally purchased for the Aegis Ashore system. The Aegis J7.B version of the system has been modified to integrate SPY-7 into Baseline 9 (BL9).
On April 4, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced the successful demonstration of the AN/SPY-7(V)1 tracking radar for ASEV. The latest Defense Ministry document says that the new radar has five times the tracking capability of the previous SPY-1 and can work with missiles launched along elevated trajectories, as well as with several ballistic missiles launched simultaneously.
The ships will have 128 vertical Launch System (VLS) cells each, which is more than the 96 cells of the Maya VLS Mk41 class destroyer.
The Ministry of Defense has begun construction of two ships since this fiscal year. 373.1 billion yen (US$2.3 billion) has been allocated for acquisition costs, including construction. In addition, 81.5 billion yen (US$504 million) has been allocated for related costs, such as various tests and operational support facilities, such as test sites. Thus, 454.6 billion yen (2.81 billion US dollars) was spent on ASEV expenses this fiscal year alone.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the dimensions of the ASEV are 190 meters long, 25 meters wide and a standard displacement of about 12,000 tons. The latest Aegis JMSDF ship, the Maya-class destroyer, is 170 meters long, 21 meters wide and has a standard displacement of 8,200 tons.
The general information about the ship, as well as the attached picture, is very vague. It is quite possible that some adjustments will be made during the detailed design and construction process. However, there are already questions about the layout of the ship.
A large number of antennas and other sensors are located at the top of the front chimney along the perimeter. How will the exhaust affect them? Or will measures be taken to reduce the temperature of gases?
The ship, having the same main caliber as the Ticonderoga, is significantly larger in size and displacement. The Japanese took into account the mistakes of American shipbuilders and took measures to strengthen the longitudinal strength of the hull, but it's still a lot. Perhaps this is a reserve for further upgrades. However, it is hardly reasonable to "carry" such empty volumes.
It is also interesting to place aft UVs. They are not located in the middle part of the hull, as is now customary, but are shifted to the sides and are located in the superstructures. What the designers were trying to achieve with such an original design is still unclear.
In general, the Japanese Navy is intensively "pumping up its muscles", the growth rate is simply "Stakhanovite".
One more news: on July 12, 2024, the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Navy, Admiral Ryo Sakai, was removed from office and sent to the reserve due to "scandals caused by his activities, including those related to people who do not have the appropriate access to work with classified information." He will leave his post on July 19, 2024 after handing over the cases.
In addition, on July 12, 2024, the Japanese military department brought to justice another 218 military personnel. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said he would voluntarily give up a month's salary, adding: "These incidents are a betrayal of public trust and should never have happened. I am deeply sorry."
Unfortunately, the details of the scandal are missing. It would be very interesting to know what led to such a "storm in a glass"?
