Jump to content

Izumo-class destroyer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2804:18:184a:dee2:5b72:cc4e:9c38:c8d4 (talk) at 02:06, 19 July 2020 (→Conversion to aircraft carrier: Fixed grammar). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

See also: Izumo-class cruiser
JS Izumo (DDH-183)
Class overview
NameIzumo class
BuildersJapan Marine United
Operators Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded byTemplate:Sclass-
Cost113.9 billion yen ($1.2 billion for construction of first unit to date)
Built2012–2017
In commission2015–present
Planned2
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeASW carrier/ Multi-purpose destroyer
Displacement
  • 19,500 tonnes empty[1]
  • 27,000 tons full load[2]
Length248 m (814 ft)[1]
Beam38 m (125 ft)[1]
Draft7.5 m (25 ft)[1]
Depth33.5 m (110 ft)[1]
Installed power112,000 hp (84,000 kW)[1]
Propulsion
Speed30 kn (56 km/h)[1]
Complement970 including crew and air wing[1]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • ATECS (advanced technology command system)
  • OYQ-12 combat direction system
  • OPS-50 AESA radar
  • OPS-28 surface-search radar
  • OQQ-23 bow sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • NOLQ-3D-1 EW suite
  • Mark 36 SRBOC
  • Anti-torpedo mobile decoy (MOD)
  • Floating acoustic jammer (FAJ)
Armament
Aircraft carried
  • 7 ASW helicopters and 2 SAR helicopters[1]
  • 12 or more F-35B [3]
  • 28 aircraft maximum

The Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyers (いずも型護衛艦, Izumo-gata-goei-kan) or 22DDH are helicopter carriers in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). In December 2018, the Japanese Cabinet gave approval to convert both ships in the class into aircraft carriers capable of operating several SH-60K/J helicopters. The class is designated as a multi-purpose operation destroyer by the Japanese government due to limits on the Japanese Constitution prohibiting the acquisition of offensive platforms.[4] The ships of this class are currently the largest surface combatants of the JMSDF, taking over the mantle previously held by the Template:Sclass-s. The lead ship was officially unveiled at Yokohama on 6 August 2013.[5]

On May 28 2019, President Donald Trump inspected Kaga, the second ship in the class, during his visit in Japan and supported the country's effort for an active role in the defense and security of the Pacific region. This was the first ever inspection by a U.S. president of a Japanese warship. Trump also stated that Kaga will help defend Japan and America against threats in the region and far beyond.[6]

Development

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) first announced plans for the class on 23 November 2009. This ship's primary mission is anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but peacekeeping and disaster relief operations are also being considered.[7]

SeaRAM.

The ship carries up to 28 aircraft.[8] However, only 7 ASW helicopters and 2 search and rescue (SAR) helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5 ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has 5 helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings or take-offs. The ship is equipped with 2 Phalanx CIWS and 2 SeaRAM for its defense.[1] The destroyers of this class were initially intended to replace the two ships of the Template:Sclass-, which were originally scheduled to begin decommissioning in FY2014.[7]

In 2010, Forecast International reported that some design features were intended to support fixed wing aircraft such as the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, although neither the MOD nor the JMSDF have mentioned the possibility of introducing carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft.[9] The ship has neither a "ski-jump" nor a catapult, typical features for launching fixed-wing aircraft.[10] If the Izumo class were to operate fixed-wing aircraft, they would be limited to those capable of STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) operations.

The construction of the first ship of the class began in 2011 at an IHI Marine United shipyard in Yokohama,[11] with funding totalling 113.9 billion yen ($1.5 billion) being set aside in the fiscal 2010 budget for this purpose.

Ships in the class

In September 2011, the Asahi Shinbun[12] reported that the Ministry of Defence was to proceed with a budget request calling for funds for the construction of the planned second unit in the class. The request was approved and the construction contract was awarded to IHI Corporation in October 2012.[13] This will come under the Defense Ministry's Mid-Term Defense Program FY2011-2015. The first ship in the class, Izumo was launched on 6 August 2013. The ship was commissioned on 25 March 2015.[14]

Izumo was named after Izumo Province (出雲国, Izumo no kuni) (present-day Shimane Prefecture), and Kaga after Kaga Province (加賀国, Kaga no kuni) (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture).

Pennant no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport
DDH-183 Izumo 27 January 2012[15] 6 August 2013[16] 25 March 2015[8] Yokosuka, Kanagawa
DDH-184[17] Kaga 7 October 2013 27 August 2015 22 March 2017 Kure, Hiroshima

Conversion to aircraft carrier

A view of Izumo

On 6 August 2013, JS Izumo was unveiled in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan. Japanese officials claimed it would be used in national defense, specifically citing anti-submarine warfare and border-area surveillance missions. Additionally, it is also asserted to bolster Japan's ability to transport personnel and supplies in response to large-scale disasters. This unveiling occurred at a time of heightened tensions over the Senkaku Islands.[citation needed]

The Washington Post noted that this ship – the biggest warship in Japan's fleet since World War II – "has raised eyebrows in China and elsewhere because it bears a strong resemblance to a conventional aircraft carrier"[5] and has been described by the Chinese as an "aircraft-carrier in disguise."[18] Though called a destroyer, some experts believe the new Japanese ship could potentially be used in the future to launch fighter jets (F-35B) or other fixed wing aircraft.[5][9][18]

Japanese military sources confirmed that the possibility of operating fixed wing aircraft was incorporated into the design of the ships from the earliest stages of the Izumo program, but this was not made public because Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution prohibits Japan from possessing offensive military weapons such as aircraft carriers. The aircraft elevators and the deck paint were designed to handle aircraft like the F-35B, and it would be possible to add a ski-jump to the flight deck for STOVL operations.[19][20][21][22]

In December 2017, several sources including Reuters and Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese government was contemplating modifying the Izumo class to operate F-35B STOVL aircraft.[23] Multiple plans were reportedly under consideration, some of which call for US Marine Corps F-35s to use the vessels while others for Japan to procure its own aircraft.[24][25] The plan quickly raised criticism from China, where government officials reacted negatively and urged Japan to "act cautiously".[26][27]

Later, in February 2018, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Japan was planning to acquire 40 F-35B, the Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which could be operated from Izumo class with some modifications to the ships.[28][29] It was estimated that each Izumo-class carrier could operate 12 or more F-35B aircraft.[30] In March that same year, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party called upon the Japanese government to develop its own aircraft carriers and operate F-35B aircraft, which has been thought to include refitting the Izumo class.[31] Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya announced on 27 November 2018 that Japan is considering buying F-35B within an order for an additional 100 F-35 aircraft,[32] and as a consequence modifying both Izumo-class helicopter carriers to operate F-35B were also considered.[33]

Approval of conversion

On 18 December 2018, the Japanese Cabinet gave approval to modify the Izumo class into de facto aircraft carriers.[34][35] The modifications will reinforce the decks of the Izumo-class ships to support the additional weight of F-35B, as well as the heat and forces from the jets during vertical landing.[34] The ruling parties re-designated the Izumo-class ships to multi-purpose operation destroyers.[4][36][37] On 30 December 2019, Japanese Ministry of Defense approved the FY2020 budget that would finance the refurbishment of the Izumo class for F-35B operation.[38]

The United States Marine Corps plans to operate their own STOVL F-35s from Izumo-class ships in cooperation with the ship's crew to build up a Japanese capability to operate this type. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has ordered 42 STOVL F-35Bs in 2019 and will operate them from land bases once delivered. The Asahi Shimbun quotes Japan’s Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya “The Izumo-class aircraft carrier role is to strengthen the air defense in the Pacific Ocean and to ensure the safety of the Self-Defense Force pilots”. he also states, “There may be no runway available for the US aircraft in an emergency. I cannot say that the US F35B should never be placed on an [JMSDF] escort vessel.” [39][40] According to an RT interview, the Japanese Ministry of Defense representative states that the STOVL aircraft are a land based Japan Air Self-Defense Force asset and the modification of maritime escort vessels is to “increase operational flexibility”, stating “We are not creating carrier air wings or carrier air squadrons”.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "ＩＨＩＭＵ、防衛省から平成２２年度計画ヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を受注". Nikkei Shimbun. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ^ 世界の艦船2012年1月号81ページ
  3. ^ "DDH-183 Izumo 22DDH Class Aircraft Carrier". Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Japan avoids flak by refusing to call flattop 'aircraft carrier'". The Asahi Shimbun. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Japan unveils new carrier-like warship, the largest in its navy since World War II". 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Trump becomes first US leader to inspect Japanese warship in show of solidarity with Abe". Straits Times. 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b Ministry of Defense. "平成２１年度政策評価書（事前の事業評価）" (PDF). Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b Hardy, James (25 March 2015). "Japan commissions helicopter carrier Izumo". janes.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  9. ^ a b Forecast International (21 June 2010). "Details of New Japanese 'Helicopter Destroyer'". Defensetalk.
  10. ^ Holm, Erik. "Japan launches biggest warship since WW2" (in Danish). Ingeniøren, 12 August 2013. Accessed: 12 August 2013.
  11. ^ "ＩＨＩ、防衛省からヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を８００億円で受注". Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Defense Ministry plans second helicopter destroyer". asahi.com. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  13. ^ ＩＨＩＭＵ、防衛省からヘリ搭載護衛艦を受注 (in Japanese). October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  14. ^ Reynolds, Isabel (Mar 25, 2015). "Japan's Biggest Warship Since World War II Enters Service". Bloomberg. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. ^ 国内最大のヘリコプター搭載護衛艦の起工式を開催 Archived 2012-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, IHI Marine United, 27 January 2012
  16. ^ Maritime Staff Office [in Japanese] (16 July 2013). 平成22年度護衛艦の命名・進水式について (PDF) (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Izumo class (22DDH) Helicopter Destroyer -JMSDF". navy-recognition.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Japanese security: Wide-mouthed frog". The Economist. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  19. ^ https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-ship-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/
  20. ^ "MSDF helicopter flattop Izumo designed as aircraft carrier：The Asahi Shimbun".
  21. ^ "Officials Admit Japan's 'Helicopter Destroyers' Were Also Designed for Jets".
  22. ^ "Like the Izumo Class? Just Wait for the Follow-on Class".
  23. ^ Kubo, Nobuhiro; Kelly, Tim (26 December 2017). "Japan considers refitting helicopter carrier for stealth fighters: government sources". Reuters. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Govt eyes converting Izumo to aircraft carrier". The Japan Times (Yumiuri Shimbun). 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  25. ^ Jennings, Gareth (27 December 2017). "Japan considers F-35B for carrier ops, national media reports". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (27 December 2017). "China urges Japan to 'act cautiously' on considerations to refit Izumo class for F-35Bs". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. ^ "China upset at Japan's plan to buy F-35B stealth fighter 'jump jets' for its helicopter carriers". News. 27 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  28. ^ "F-35B jets eyed to defend remote isles / Fighters also mulled for MSDF's Izumo ship". Yomiuri Shimbun. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  29. ^ "Japan Might Buy as Many as 40 F-35B Fighters, Report States". 2018-02-19.
  30. ^ "DDH-183 Izumo 22DDH Class helicopter destroyer". Global security. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  31. ^ Japan Seeks to Answer China With an Aircraft Carrier; Ruling party, citing Chinese ‘incursions’ around disputed islands, also recommends buying U.S. F-35B fighter jets March 20, 2018 WSJ
  32. ^ "Japan to order 100 more F-35 fighters from US". Nikkei Asian Review. Tokyo. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Japan considers procuring F-35B for its Izumo-class helicopter carriers | Jane's 360".
  34. ^ a b "Japan to have first aircraft carriers since World War II". CNN. December 18, 2018.
  35. ^ "Japan gives nod to first aircraft carriers since WWII, says move does not violate pacifist Constitution". The Straits Times. 19 December 2018.
  36. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan. "Japan Approves Plans to Convert Izumo-Class Into F-35-Carrying Aircraft Carriers". The diplomat. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  37. ^ https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/18/asia/japan-aircraft-carriers-intl/
  38. ^ Inaba, Yoshihiro (2019-12-30). "Japan takes first steps towards refurbishment of JMSDF destroyer Izumo". Naval News. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  39. ^ https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/08/usmc-to-first-fly-f-35b-from-japans-izumo-class-aircraft-carriers/
  40. ^ https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/18/asia/japan-aircraft-carriers-intl/
  41. ^ Japan first aircraft carriers
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Izumo class helicopter carriers.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Izumo-class_destroyer&oldid=968384671"