The Kongō class of guided missile destroyers, a modification of the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class (Flight I), serves as the core ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s Escort Flotillas. The Kongō class employs the highly advanced Aegis fire control system and is armed with the RIM-66 SM2 Block II surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 vertically launched anti-submarine rocket, the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration, and an Oto Melara 127 mm/54 caliber gun. Its Mark 41 vertical launch system can hold 90 missiles. However, in keeping with the defensive mission of the JMSDF and passive nature of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in general, the Kongō-class lacks the Tomahawk missile
