Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Thread

[SolarisKenzo]

Things can work out even in western countries.
Look at Italy or France, but also Germany (for subs).

Fincantieri is currently building 3x U-212NFS simultaneously in La Spezia. Next year the fourth one will begin construction, allowing for one SSK delivered every year.
Riva Trigoso built 12 FREMMs and 7 PPAs, basically 19x 6000+ tonnes frigates in 11 years with 2 more being built of a new version.

 

[Ananda]

Japan releases image of Railgun installed on naval vessel - Naval News

On April 18, 2025, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) released an image of its state-of-the-art railgun currently undergoing testing aboard the test ship JS Asuka.

www.navalnews.com

If Japan able to shown their rail gun barrel is dependable even after that 120 firing threshold, then this can be the answer for swarm of missile intercept answer including the Hypersonic ones.

 

[downunderblue]

Japan releases image of Railgun installed on naval vessel - Naval News

On April 18, 2025, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) released an image of its state-of-the-art railgun currently undergoing testing aboard the test ship JS Asuka.

www.navalnews.com

View attachment 52682View attachment 52683

If Japan able to shown their rail gun barrel is dependable even after that 120 firing threshold, then this can be the answer for swarm of missile intercept answer including the Hypersonic ones.

Apparently "it achieves a muzzle velocity of 2,500 metres per second ... with sustained firing of 120 rounds without barrel degradation — a feat that addresses one of the major limitations faced by previous US attempts to field similar systems.

The weapon is reported to fire two types of projectiles: a single-body steel dart and a composite armour-piercing round, each weighing about 320 grams and 16 cm in length".

The range is estimated at 30NM, or 56km.

To put that into perspective the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/44 120mm smoothbore gun of a Leopard 2A6 firing a APFSDS has a muzzle velocity 1650 m/s and approx maximum engagement range 4km.

I formed the conclusion that getting hit by the JMSDF rail gun is gunna hurt ...

 

[John Fedup]

It will interesting to see how the metallurgy that replaced copper stands up. Hopefully the rare earth components don't come from China!

 

[swerve]

Apparently "it achieves a muzzle velocity of 2,500 metres per second ... with sustained firing of 120 rounds without barrel degradation — a feat that addresses one of the major limitations faced by previous US attempts to field similar systems.

The weapon is reported to fire two types of projectiles: a single-body steel dart and a composite armour-piercing round, each weighing about 320 grams and 16 cm in length".

The range is estimated at 30NM, or 56km.

To put that into perspective the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/44 120mm smoothbore gun of a Leopard 2A6 firing a APFSDS has a muzzle velocity 1650 m/s and approx maximum engagement range 4km.

I formed the conclusion that getting hit by the JMSDF rail gun is gunna hurt ...

Naah. You'll never feel it.

 

[spoz]

It is, however, a tiny projectile - about the size of a conventional 20mm. Which can fire many more than120 rounds before it has barrel issues and has a much smaller mount and power requirement. So an interesting development which will bear watching, but still seemingly a long way from being a significant contributor to combat power.

 

[downunderblue]

Naah. You'll never feel it.

Too true.

'The speed of nerve pain signals can vary, but generally, nerve signals travel at a speed of 50 to 60 meters per second. This speed can be affected by factors like nerve damage or the type of nerve fiber involved' [ref].

 

[Volkodav]

It is, however, a tiny projectile - about the size of a conventional 20mm. Which can fire many more than120 rounds before it has barrel issues and has a much smaller mount and power requirement. So an interesting development which will bear watching, but still seemingly a long way from being a significant contributor to combat power.

Depending on accuracy it could be an effective, last ditch, counter to hypersonic and ballistic missiles. A burst of a couple if rounds from a couple of escorting platforms, or even the targeted platform could work.

 

[Ananda]

Depending on accuracy it could be an effective, last ditch, counter to hypersonic and ballistic missiles.

This is seems what the Japanese aim as primary motive. Land and Sea attack seems are additions functions. However firing on Hypersonic on terminal velocity and Re-entry ballistic missiles always have very short windows. This seems going to depend on AI base calculation to determine all possible terminal angles.

Thus asside on the hardware, the software development is going to be interesting to see.

 

[Salinger]

DSEI JAPAN 2025 DDG (new Aegis?)

170m type (railgun)
150m type

 

[Ananda]

From RN online account, nice picture of PoW F-35B have landing trial into Japanese Light Carrier. Soon this will be replicate by Japanese own F-35B.

 

[JudgeKing]

Japan Successfully Fires Ship-Mounted Railgun at Target Vessel for First Time
Japan recently test fired its prototype railgun against a target vessel at sea.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1965701798448013737

 

[FormerDirtDart]

Japan Successfully Fires Ship-Mounted Railgun at Target Vessel for First Time
Japan recently test fired its prototype railgun against a target vessel at sea.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1965701798448013737

Definitely leaves us with several questions.
First being did they hit their target? Because 'fired at" is very ambiguous.
And Is there any information on the resulting damage if the engagement was successful?

 

[Ananda]

Japan may develop nuclear-powered submarines following new expert study

A government expert panel has urged Japan to study nuclear-powered submarines, signaling a possible shift in defense strategy amid escalating regional threats

www.armyrecognition.com

After ROK also already toying the idea for Nuclear propulsion for Submarine, Japan official studies also shown support to that direction. All to solve one thing, long term endurance.

If Brazil and India can come out with their own submarine nuclear reactor propulsion, I don't see why ROK and Japan can not come out on their own. They don't need outside help, and with ROK and Japan has superior shiping industry, they can churn out SSN faster then US and UK yards can do. They have mature nuclear industry, all they need is political will.

 

[John Fedup]

Japan may develop nuclear-powered submarines following new expert study

A government expert panel has urged Japan to study nuclear-powered submarines, signaling a possible shift in defense strategy amid escalating regional threats

www.armyrecognition.com

After ROK also already toying the idea for Nuclear propulsion for Submarine, Japan official studies also shown support to that direction. All to solve one thing, long term endurance.

If Brazil and India can come out with their own submarine nuclear reactor propulsion, I don't see why ROK and Japan can not come out on their own. They don't need outside help, and with ROK and Japan has superior shiping industry, they can churn out SSN faster then US and UK yards can do. They have mature nuclear industry, all they need is political will.

Although SSNs would be beneficial, the efforts to design a submarine naval reactor might be better directed towards WMD which both countries could do faster than a SSN. MAD is still an effective deterrent (at least for China). A shame Japan and SKorea couldn't partner up but WW2 history makes this very unlikely anytime soon.

 

[Ananda]

the efforts to design a submarine naval reactor might be better directed towards WMD which both countries could do faster than a SSN.

Getting political will for SSN already huge endevour, getting WMD will much more hurdles politically and test too much on public acceptance. Let alone Japan, even in ROK will not be easy to get political support. US in the end will still have final say on that.

However for nuclear propulsion, I believe it is still much more manageable politically and can be done independently. It is going to take time for both of them, but with mature nuclear industries that both have, it is still within reach in near future. If they choose to do it.

 

[John Fedup]

Getting political will for SSN already huge endevour, getting WMD will much more hurdles politically and test too much on public acceptance. Let alone Japan, even in ROK will not be easy to get political support. US in the end will still have final say on that.

However for nuclear propulsion, I believe it is still much more manageable politically and can be done independently. It is going to take time for both of them, but with mature nuclear industries that both have, it is still within reach in near future. If they choose to do it.

Given the worsening geopolitical situation and questionable US commitment, I don't think either country would face much opposition to SSN development (the former seemed to work for Australia). As for WMD development, absolutely yes, a harder political sell. This is likely more so for Japan than SKorea due to unstable fatboy. As for the the US having a final say, that is becoming less likely due to Trump's trade actions and as mentioned before, "questionable commitment". Time will tell I guess before 2028 as IOTUS might not survive and what follows is really questionable well. Factor in the increasing unstable situation in Europe, Japan and SKorea may well be on their own.