Atago class destroyer

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Class overview
Ashigara (DDG-178) under construction in 2007
Operators:	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Built:	2004–2008
In commission:	2007–
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,750 tons standard 10,000+ tons full load
Length:	170 m (557 ft 9 in)
Beam:	21 m (68 ft 11 in)
Draft:	6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:	4 Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines Two shafts 100,000 shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h)
Complement:	300
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPY-1 radar
Armament:	• 8 x SSM-1B SSM • SM-2MR Standard SAM • ASROC anti-submarine rocket • 1 x 5 inch (127 mm)/62 cal Mk.45 mod 4 lightweight gun • 2 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS • 2 x HOS302 triple torpedo tubes (6 x Mk-46 or type73 torpedoes)
Aircraft carried:	1 × SH-60K helicopter

The Atago class of guided missile destroyers is an improved version of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s Kongō class destroyers. It is a Japanese variant of the United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (Flight IIA).

[edit] Design

JDS Kongo with Ashigara while under construction at Mitsubishi in Nagasaki.

In 2000, the Japan Defense Agency Maritime Staff Office included another two Aegis ships in its five-year budget on top of the four Kongo class destroyers originally ordered.

The Atago class is fundamentally an improved and scaled up version of Kongō class destroyers. It features large accommodation and capable of flexible operation. One of the most obvious change is additional hangar to carry one SH-60K helicopter. In comparison to the Kongō-class/Arleigh Burke-class (Flight I) which only had helicopter platforms (but no support equipment), these ships have better helicopter handling facilities. To enhance Atago class' function as command centers, the bridge is two floors higher than Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA, making its full load displacement over 10,000 tons—the first time for a JMSDF surface combat vessel. The gun caliber has extended from 54 caliber of the Kongō class to 62 caliber with strengthened powder charge capable 38 km firing range . As with other Japanese ships refit, US-made Harpoon missiles (as in initial configuration of Kongō class) are replaced with Japan-made Type 90 (SSM-1B) surface to surface guided missiles.

Japan has also purchased a manufacturing license for these weapons for use on their Kongo class Aegis destroyers. Japan Steel Works will manufacture, assemble and test the weapons.

The fire-control system for the Atago is Aegis Weapon System Baseline 7 phase 1, which will combine U.S.- and Japanese-manufactured systems to make up the complete Aegis system. The Aegis Weapon System baseline 7 has improved tracking accuracy for vertical targets and acquisition capability of small low altitude targets compared to Aegis Weapon System baseline 4 and 5, used in Kongō class. The Atago also use a new stealthier plain structure mast, which was originally designed in Japan, rather than familiar lattice type mast. New modified smokestack and other improvements are also introduced to make Atago stealthier.

Like the Kongō class, the Atago destroyers are equipped with a comprehensive suite of weapon systems including:

Japan Type 90 (SSM-1B) anti-ship missile
96-cell Mk-41 VLS (64 cells in forward area, 32 cells in stern area)

2 x Mark 15 20 mm CIWS gun mounts
2 x torpedo mounts in a triple-tube configuration
Mk 45 Mod 4 127 mm 62-caliber gun, in stealth shaped mount. Made by Japan Steel Works under US-license.

In keeping with Japan's pacifist constitution, the Atago class does not use the Tomahawk missile. As the two ships of Atago class are entering service, Tachikaze class destroyer (Tachikaze and Asakaze) are to be decommisioned.