The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has commissioned its fourth Taigei-class diesel-electric submarine.
Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the JS Raigei (“thunder whale”) followed three years after the lead submarine, eponymously named JS Taigei (“big whale”), was commissioned in March 2022.
In October 2022, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — the program’s other contractor — launched the third attack submarine, Jingei (“swift swimming whale”).
The entire fleet of eight planned submarines is scheduled to be in service by the 2030s.
Regional Focus
The 84-meter-long (275-foot) stealth attack submarines were designed according to Japan’s requirements, which included cost-efficiency as diesel-electrics are less expensive to maintain compared to nuclear submarines.
They will be focused on defending the island country against regional security threats, especially amid its conflict with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea and North Korea’s missile tests around the Sea of Japan.
Since Taigei will be deployed in those constrained and shallow waters, “stealth and the ability to operate silently is the priority over the endurance of nuclear submarines,” Daito Bunka University professor of international relations, Garren Mulloy, informed South China Morning Post.
Featuring a high-performance ZQQ-8 sonar suite, Kawasaki 12V 25/31 diesel engines, and lithium-ion batteries, the submarines can travel for longer periods at high speeds of about 20 knots (23 miles/37 kilometers per hour) with enhanced stealth and detection capabilities.
They are armed with Type 18 heavyweight torpedoes and UGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles.
