Atago-class

Summary

Description

The Atago-class guided-missile destroyers serve as central figures in air defense within the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This class is an advanced iteration of the Kongō class and incorporates the Aegis Combat System.

The origins of the Atago class can be traced back to the need for air-defense-capable ships in the JMSDF fleet, which began with the commissioning of the Aegis-equipped Kongō class destroyers in 1988. By the 2000s, the older steam-powered Tachikaze-class destroyers were nearing retirement, leading to the budgeting for two Aegis-equipped Atago class destroyers in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 as successors.

The design of the Atago class was based on an enlarged and improved version of the Kongō-class, with an extension of the hull by 4 meters. The superstructure was made larger than that of American Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA destroyers, and the class was designed to include stealthier features, such as a new plain-structure mast and modifications to the smokestack. The propulsion system mirrored that of its predecessors, utilizing four Ishikawajima-Harima LM2500 gas turbines, augmented with three generators with an increased output of 2,800 kilowatts each.

Armament-wise, the Atago class is outfitted with the Aegis Weapon System, featuring an initial Baseline 7.1 which has since been updated to Baseline 9C. For surface-to-air defense, the SM-2MR Block IIIA/B missiles were employed, and since FY 2016, missile defense capability has also been included with Aegis BMD 5.0CU systems capable of launching SM-3 Block IA and IB anti-ballistic missiles. The ships also possess the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System for various missiles, including RIM-162, SM-2, SM-3, and VL-ASROCs. Unlike the Kongō class, the Atago class omitted the missile reloading crane and increased the number of missile cells. Anti-submarine capabilities feature the Japanese variant of the Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (HOS-302) and AN/SQQ-89(V)15 ASW combat system with AN/SQS-53C sonar and a towed array sonar system.

In terms of firepower, the 127mm bore gun received an upgrade from a 54 caliber to a 62 caliber, which expanded the firing range to 38 km. The ship can also be equipped with Japanese-made Type 90 (SSM-1B) surface-to-surface missiles, offering compatibility options previously afforded by American-made Harpoon missiles.

Technical specifications