The Japanese Ministry of Defense revealed it has begun building the first four of 12 planned offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
Following their keel-laying ceremony in February in Yokohama, Japan, the first two OPVs are scheduled to launch in November 2025, and the other two will follow in March 2026.
All four are expected to enter service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force by March 2027.
Each vessel from the first tranche cost approximately 9 billion yen ($63 million), built by shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU).
Japan’s Next-Generation OPV
Japan awarded JMU the task of constructing a fleet of 12 OPVs in 2022 to strengthen the country’s surveillance and monitoring capabilities in its territorial waters, supporting its defense posture amid China’s increasing military activity in the region.
Each OPV measures 95 meters (311 feet) long and 12 meters (39 feet) wide with a 1,920-ton standard displacement.
Powered by combined diesel-electric and diesel propulsion, it can reach speeds of up to 20 knots (37 kilometers/23 miles per hour).
It will feature a deck for helicopters and unmanned aerial systems, such as the V-BAT vertical take-off and landing surveillance drone.
Armed with a 30mm gun, the OPV will also use automation, advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment, and require a crew of around 30, just one-third of the Mogami-class multirole frigates’ crew complement.
Additionally, it is designed for easy maintenance, low fuel consumption, and modularity, enabling it to perform other roles, such as disaster relief.
