PRESS

2010, Tokyo announced its plan to increase its world
class submarine fleet from 16 to 22 boats, representing
a nearly 40 percent jump in size. The decision was all
the more remarkable because the number of boats had
stayed fixed at 16 since 1976.
Leading this growth is the cutting-edge Sōryūclass
diesel-electric submarine. The largest of its kind
in the world, the Sōryū is superior to its predecessor
by virtually every index of performance. It is the first
Japanese boat fitted with air independent propulsion,
a fuel-cell technology that permits submarines to operate
underwater for extended periods while quieting
their noise signature. In short, the MSDF leads the region
in conventional submarine warfare, constituting
the benchmark against which other Asian navies will
be compared over the next decade.
Notably, Japan has been able to invest in its undersea
prowess without imposing undue burdens on
its fiscal position. The MSDF has traditionally decommissioned
its submarines unusually early, introducing
more advanced boats to replace older ones that
could have stayed in active service for at least another
decade. To support the current buildup, the maritime
service began keeping its existing boats at sea longer,
allowing for a steady growth in fleet size without substantially
increasing acquisition costs. Japan will likely
meet its 22-boat target before the end of the decade.
The MSDF’s surface fleet, comprised of nearly 50
major surface combatants, has also undergone a makeover.
In 2009, the maritime service commissioned the
first of two Hyūga-class helicopter carriers with a full
load displacement of 19,000 tons. Capable of embarking
as many as 11 helicopters, the carrier is a powerful
antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platform.
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