Izumo-class helicopter destroyer
_just_after_her_launch.jpg)
JS Izumo (DDH-183) just after her launch
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | Izumo-class helicopter destroyer |
| Builders: | Japan Marine United |
| Operators: |
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
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| Preceded by: | Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer |
| Cost: | 113.9 billion yen ($1.2 billion for construction of first unit to date) |
| Planned: | 2 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Active: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | ASW carrier |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 248 m (814 ft) |
| Beam: | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Draft: | 7.5 m (25 ft) |
| Depth: | 33.5 m (110 ft) |
| Installed power: | 112,000 hp (84,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 30 kn (56 km/h) |
| Complement: | 970 including crew and troops |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: |
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The Izumo-class helicopter destroyer (いずも型護衛艦 Izumo-gata-goei-kan?) or 22DDH is a type of new helicopter carrier class being constructed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The ships of this class will be the largest surface combatants of the JMSDF, taking over the mantle currently held by the Hyūga-class helicopter destroyers. The lead ship was officially unveiled at Yokohama on 6 August 2013.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) first announced plans for the class on 23 November 2009. This ship's primary mission is anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but peacekeeping and disaster relief operations are also being considered.
The ship carries up to 28 aircraft. However, only 7 ASW helicopters and 2 search and rescue (SAR) helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5 ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has 5 helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings or take-offs. The ship is equipped with 2 Phalanx CIWS and 2 SeaRAM for its defense. The destroyers of this class were initially intended to replace the two ships of the Shirane class, which were originally scheduled to begin decommissioning in FY2014.
In 2010, Forecast International reported that some design features were intended to support fixed wing aircraft such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, although neither the MOD nor the JMSDF have mentioned the possibility of introducing carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft. The ship has neither a "ski-jump" nor a catapult, typical features for launching fixed-wing aircraft. If the Izumo class were to operate fixed-wing aircraft, they would be limited to those capable of STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) operations; Japan has acquired the F-35A for use by the JASDF, but has not indicated whether it would purchase the STOVL F-35B version. Even if they did, the ship's lack of a ski jump limiting the plane's range and payload, lack of specialized landing pads to withstand the F-35B's immense heat generated upon vertical thrusts, and small space to accommodate very many planes would make it a poor "offensive" aircraft carrier.
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Wikipedia