Asahi-class destroyer
{{short description|Destroyer class of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = DD-120 Shiranui 01.jpg | Ship caption = JS Shiranui (DD-120) }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders=
|Operators= {{navy|Japan}} |Class before={{sclass|Akizuki|destroyer|4 | 2010}}
|Subclasses= |Cost=*DD119: JPY72.3 billion{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/25dd.htm|title=25DD Multipurpose Destroyer|first=John|last=Pike|website=globalsecurity.org|access-date=20 March 2018}}
|Built range=2015–2019 |In service range=2018-present |In commission range=2018–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=2 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship type = Destroyer | Ship displacement = * {{cvt|5,100|t|LT|lk=on}} standard
| Ship length = {{convert|151|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|18.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draft = {{convert|5.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|10.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = COGLAG, two shafts, two GE LM2500 turbines | Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship boats = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 230 | Ship crew = | Ship sensors = *OYQ-13 ACDS
| Ship armament =
| Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 1 × SH-60K helicopter | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Asahi class of destroyers is a class of warships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Asahi is largely based on the Akizuki-class destroyer; while the Akizuki-class specialized in anti-air warfare, the Asahi-class was designed to specialize in anti-submarine warfare. The design was initially designated "25DD", referring to a date on the Japanese calendar, specifically the 25th fiscal year of the Heisei period (2013), the year that procurement of the class began.
The lead ship, Asahi, is the third ship to hold the name after the Asahi-class destroyer escort lent from the United States Navy in 1955, and the Imperial Japanese battleship. The second ship of the class, Shiranui, is the third ship to hold its name after the Murakumo and Kagerō-class destroyers.
Development
The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the {{sclass|Hatsuyuki|destroyer|4}}) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of a COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine: a modification of the combined gas and gas propulsion system employing electric propulsion system for low-speed cruising) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/250516.pdf|title=Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2013 Budget|date=January 2013|website=Japan Ministry of Defense|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019143623/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/250516.pdf|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/260130.pdf|title=Defense Programs and Budget of Japan Overview of FY2014 Budget|date=December 2013|website=Japan Ministry of Defense|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302173329/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/260130.pdf|archive-date=2 March 2014|url-status=dead}}
Design
The Asahi class is based on the existing {{sclass|Akizuki|destroyer|2||2010}} to reduce acquisition cost and allow future development and growth. Unlike the Akizuki class, which focuses on anti-aircraft warfare, the Asahi class focuses on anti-submarine warfare.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/july-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5433-first-jmsdf-25dd-class-asahi-asw-destroyer-started-sea-trials.html|title=First JMSDF 25DD-class Asahi ASW Destroyer Started Sea Trials|date=27 July 2017|website=Navy Recognition|access-date=8 January 2019}}
=Features=
The Asahi class is the first class of Japanese warships to be equipped with a COGLAG propulsion system, allowing the class to be more fuel efficient than previous warships. Another unique feature of this destroyer is the usage of a GaN-AESA (gallium nitride - active electronically scanned array) multifunction radar. The Asahi class is the second Japanese class of warship to be outfitted with this technology (the Akizuki class was the first). The destroyer's radar is based on the FCS-3A radar used for the Akizuki class and uses gallium nitride to improve performance. In radar technology, gallium nitride offers a number of advantages over the typically used gallium arsenide (GaA). These advantages include higher power density, efficiency, thermal spreading and frequency coverage. In turn, this allows the GaN chip to be smaller than their GaA counterpart, thus reducing cost and increasing overall cost effectiveness.{{Cite web|url=http://csmantech.pairserver.com/newsite/gaasmantech/Digests/2012/papers/3.2.011.pdf|title=GaN Technology for Radars|first1=Colin S. |last1=Whelan |first2=Nicholas J. |last2=Kolias |first3=Steven |last3=Brierley |first4=Chris |last4=MacDonald |first5=Steven |last5=Bernstein |name-list-style=amp|date=23–26 April 2012|website=pairserver|access-date=8 January 2019}}
Ships in the class
| class=wikitable
! Building no. | Pennant no. | Name/Namesake | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Shipyard |
| 1613 | DD-119 | {{JS|Asahi|DD-119|2}} (Morning Sun)
| 4 August 2015 | 19 October 2016
| 7 March 2018 | MHI, Nagasaki | ||
| 1614 | DD-120 | {{JS|Shiranui|DD-120|2}} (Phosphorescent Light)
| 20 May 2016 | 12 October 2017
| 27 February 2019 | MHI, Nagasaki |