JS Taigei

	JS Taigei at Mitsubishi Dockyard, Kobe on 18 October 2020.
History
Japan
Name	Taigei; (たいげい);
Ordered	2017
Builder	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Cost	¥69.7 billion
Laid down	16 March 2018
Launched	14 October 2020
Commissioned	Expected, March 2022
Identification	SS-513
Status	Fitting out
General characteristics
Class and type	Taigei-class submarine
Displacement	Surface: 3,000 tonnes
Length	84.0 m (275 ft 7 in)
Beam	9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught	10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Complement	70
Sensors and ; processing systems	ZPS-6H surface/low-level air search radar; Oki ZQQ-8 Sonar;
Armament	6 × HU-606 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes for:; 1.) Type 89 torpedo or Type 18 torpedo; 2.) Harpoon (missile);

JS Taigei (SS-513) is the first boat of the Taigei-class attack submarine of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The submarine was ordered from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2017 and laid down on 16 March 2018 at Kobe, Japan. Taigei was launched on 14 October 2020. Delivery is expected in 2022.

Development and design

The hull design of the Taigei class is said to not differ too much from the operational Sōryū class but will be 100 tons heavier than its predecessor. However, the Taigei-class submarines will be more advanced as they are equipped with newer equipment such as sonar systems, snorkel power generation system. The Taigei class will use lithium-ion batteries much like JS Ōryū and JS Tōryū of the Sōryū-class submarines.^[1] The submarine will likely use the Type 18 torpedo, which project name as "G-RX6".^[2]^[3] In addition, in response to the lifting of restrictions on the placement of female SDF personnel on submarines, the work of female SDF personnel is being supported by establishing partitions in the living quarters and securing bedrooms for women.

Construction and career

Taigei was laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard on 16 March 2018 as the 2017 plan 3000-ton submarine No. 8128 based on the medium-term defense capability development plan (26 medium-term defense), and in 2020. It was named Taigei at the naming and launching ceremony held at the factory on 14 October. Scheduled to be handed over to the Maritime Self-Defense Force in March 2022, the deployment destination is undecided.^[4]