The Akizuki Class destroyers, also known as 19DD, are being built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence. The Akizuki Class is intended to escort the Hyuga, 22DDH helicopter destroyers, and designed partly to "guard" Aegisdestroyers in the Missile defense (MD) missions. This class was used to be called "19DD", derived from the Japanese calendar, specifically the 19th fiscal year of the Heisei period (2007).Force (JMSDF).
The new destroyers will replace the five Hatsuyuki Class destroyers in service.
The design of this class derives from the one of the Takanami class destroyer, but there are many points improved. Main gas turbine engines are standardized with the power upped version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C in contrast to the combination of the Rolls-Royce SM1C and the General Electric LM2500 which is used in Takanami-class.
The request to build the first of four planned modern destroyers was made by the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) in its 2007 budget.
The keel for the first vessel, Akizuki (DD115), was laid down at Nagasaki shipyard in July 2009. It was launched in October 2010 and commissioned in March 2012.
The second destroyer, Teruzuki (DD 116), was launched in September 2011 and will be commissioned in March 2013. The third and fourth destroyers, DD 117 and DD 118, are planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2012 for commissioning in 2014.
The design of this class derives from the one of the Takanami class destroyer, but there are many points improved. Main gas turbine engines are standardized with the power upped version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C in contrast to the combination of the Rolls-Royce SM1C and the General Electric LM2500 which is used in Takanami-class.
The main features of the class are its enhanced C4ISR and AAW capability with the OYQ-11 advanced combat direction sub-system (ACDS) and the FCS-3A AAW weapon sub-system.
OYQ-11
This is the first CDS adopting fully distributed computing architecture with the AN/UYQ-70 workstations and Link 16 capability for general-purpose destroyers of JMSDF. In addition to the CDS, this class is equipped withSATCOM terminals with Superbirds for the MOF system. The MOF, Maritime Operation Force System is the operational C4I system commonly used in the fleet of the JMSDF, based on the ILOG architecture and interoperable with other JSDF forces. And there are also USC-42 DAMA terminals for the GCCS-M, the American counterpart of the MOF system.
FCS-3A
This is the AAW weapon system of Japanese make. It consists of two main components, one is the dual-band and multimode radar system, and the other is the fire-control system. The FCS-3A system is the derivative of the FCS-3 system of the Hyūga class helicopter destroyer, but this system is introduced with the local area defense (LAD) capability. The SAM system integrated with FCS-3A is ESSM.
And also ASW and EW capabilities are enhanced with the OQQ-22 integrated sonar suite sub-system (hull-sonar and OQR-3 towed array; Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89) and the NOLQ-3D digitalized EW suite sub-system. These sub-systems are integrated with NOYQ-1B Wide area network. The totality of these systems are comparable to the one of theZumwalt class destroyer.
Akizuki has an overall length of 150.5m, a beam of 18.3m and a draft of 5.3m. The standard and full load displacements of the destroyer are 5,000t and 6,800t respectively. The vessel can accommodate 200 crew members.
The Akizuki Class is armed with eight Type 90 ship-to-ship missiles (SSM).
Type
90 is a ship-launch version of the Type 88 surface-to-ship missile.
It
can destroy surface ships within the range of 150km to 200km by using an
inertial and active radar guidance system.
A
Mk41 vertical launch system is fitted for launching RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow
Missiles (ESSM), RUM-139 VL-ASROC and Type 07 VL-ASROC.
The Mk45 5in lightweight is the main gun
fitted forward in the vessel. The gun can fire at a rate of 16 to 20 rounds per
minute for an effective range of 24.1km.
The
destroyer also features two 20mm Phalanx Block1B CIWS to provide point defence
against incoming short range missiles, rockets and low-flying fixed-wing
aircraft.
The Akizuki Class is fitted with two 324mm HOS-303 triple torpedo tubes firing six torpedoes. It also has an anti-torpedo system to counter incoming torpedoes.
The destroyer has a large aft flight deck and
hangar area to allow for the operations of two SH-60K anti-submarine
helicopters. The SH-60K onboard the ship is equipped with sonobouys and
torpedoes.
In
March 2008, the Japan Ministry of Defence, through Mitsubishi Corporation,
placed an order with Curtiss-Wright Corporation for a recovery assist, secure
and traverse (RAST) Mark VI helicopter handling system to be equipped on the
first vessel.
Akizuki is powered by combined gas turbine
and gas turbine (COGAG) propulsion system.
Four
Rolls Royce Marine Spey SM1C turbines driving two shafts provide up to 19.5MW.
The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 30kt.