Japan launches second Maya-class AEGIS destroyer

The Haguru as it was launched from JMU's facility in Yokohama. Photo c/o JMSDF.

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) led on 17 July 2019 the launching of its second Maya-class AEGIS guided missile destroyer being built by Japan Marine United (JMU) in their shipyard in Yokohama.

The ship, which will be named the future JS Haguru (DDG-180), follows the launching of its sistership Maya (DDG-179) on July 2018. The future JS Haguru is expected to be commissioned with the JMSDF by mid 2021.

The Maya-class destroyers are larger, improved versions of the earlier Atago-class, and will have Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability.

It will be eighth ship of the JMSDF to have the AEGIS combat system, with the Maya-class equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/SPQ-9B radar system and the latest version of the AEGIS Baseline J7 combat system which is equivalent to the US Navy's AEGIS Baseline 9/BMD 5.1 standard.

The ship will be armed with the SM-3 Block IIA as well as the SM-6 anti-ballistic missile interceptors. It will also have the SM-2 Standard and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) launched from the 96 Mk.41 VLS systems.

It would be powered by an improved Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas Turbine (CODLAG) propulsion system, a departure from the usual Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) found on earlier JMSDF destroyer classes.

Another feature is the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) which allows real-time sharing of sensor data on air targets including enemy aircraft and cruise missiles among CEC-equipped ships. Currently CEC is present on US Navy ships, and the Hobart-class destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The larger size of the ship also provide allowances for future capabilities including the use of rail gun and laser weapons that are still under development.



[1] The Diplomat
[2] Naval Today