The design is also shown in Japanese Ministry of Defense sources suggesting official endorsement by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The new snorkel power generation system aims to be more compact, quiet and generate higher power output to enhance the submarines operability, survivability and stealth. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Japan's newest submarine “Taigei” (previously known as 29SS) was launched today at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) shipyard in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Japan has also been developing advanced conformal sonar systems. This last is particularly a concern in the rocky shallows off the Korean peninsula, in which North Korea operates dozens of small submarines that could prove difficult to detect. [20][21], In 2018, an evaluation on a high-efficiency power storage and supply system was conducted. You can see a provisional drawing of the 29SS design by submarine analyst H.I. At the blog Submarine Matters, analyst Peter Coates speculates the new design might boast up to ten days cruising submerged.

III AIP system, which was installed aboard the first 10 Sōryū-class submarines.

The silent drive system is used to further reduce the noise emitted from the submarine en-light of improvements made in sonar technology from other countries.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is currently completing a twelfth Soryu-class submarine weighing 2,900 metric tons surfaced, with three more likely to be built by KHI and MHI. The project involves researching propeller and hull shape design to reduce noise generation and submarine structure to improve noise reduction and impact resistance.

Research on both components were carried out between 2006 to 2008 and tested between 2008 to 2009. Kyle Mizokami is a writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring and The Daily Beast. However, ditching the Stirling air-independent propulsion system used in earlier Soryu boats involves a tradeoff. Research is conducted between 2018 to 2021 and will be tested between 2021 to 2022. The new submarine is 275 feet 7 inches long and with a surfaced displacement of around 3,000 tons, it is also the largest post-World War II submarine Japan has built. Likewise, the new AIP systems will allow the submarines to expand their operational areas, including responding in shallow waters.

“…even with LIBs, Japanese and Australian subs will need to loudly snort with supercharged diesel engines every 10 days, thus blowing their residual discretion out of the water.”.

South Korea appears to be considering developing submarine nuclear propulsion despite legal obstacles, but the technology might be even more politically sensitive in Japan. The first research was commenced between 2017 to 2020, while testing occurs between 2019 to 2022. In June 2019, submarine manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries hosted a presentation (subsequently shared on Twitter) revealing plans for Japan’s next-generation submarine, dubbed the 29SS …

The evaluation into the new sonar system expects that foreign surface ships and submarines operating in the 2030's will improve their quietness and operate in complex and diverse marine environments; thus improvements in detection and tracking capabilities were researched.

Sutton here. The snorkel power generation prototype was developed between 2010 to 2014 and tested between 2014 to 2015.

The 29SS submarines would replace the existing Sōryū class submarines …

Documents reveal the 29SS will begin development in 2025–2028, and is targeted for entry into service in 2031. The Taigei-class submarines (29SS) is a new class of attack submarines developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. A total of ¥400 million were used to fund the project. The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) is planning to increase its submarine fleet to twenty-two operational diesel and AIP-powered submarines, plus one testing and two training submarines.

Returns from multiple sonars will reportedly be integrated into a synthetic sensor picture on the submarine’s new combat system, which can perform target-motion analysis and suggest firing solutions. The development of the Taigei-class were conducted from a variety of researches aimed at developing new and improved submarine components to improve the capabilities of "next-generation submarines" that will operate in the 2020's and beyond. Japan has unveiled what is very likely the design for its next-generation attack submarine.

Earlier Japanese articles have also cataloged several technologies expected to be integrated in the 3,000-ton submarine. [10][11][12][13], In 2012, research on the structural mode for submarines was conducted.

There will also be a towed sonar array for long-distance, omnidirectional tracking, a reverse-search sonar array, and a broadband transmission array.

One source claims a “thirteen-blade” pump-jet would be 20 decibels (two orders of magnitude) quieter than the seven-bladed propeller on the Soryu. Submarine nuclear propulsion would be an attainable but expensive project for Japan. The JMSDF’s submariners will need to leverage superior stealth and situational awareness when contending with the increasingly formidable naval forces of potential adversaries in the western Pacific. Supposedly the new, optionally wire-guided system will use a stealthy hydrogen/oxygen combustion turbine, and it sonar will better be able to discriminate between decoys and real targets and time the detonation of the warhead for optimal effect depending on target type.

It is the successor to the Sōryū-class submarine. [22][23], The first submarine of this class, Taigei, will be converted to a test submarine.

The first project aims to develop a new sonar array with improvements in weight reduction, power saving and detection ability in response to improved quietness of future ships and submarines.

A prototype was developed between 2007 to 2011 and tested between 2010 to 2014. Coates is skeptical that even advanced LIB-equipped submarines will fare well facing Chinese and Russian nuclear-powered submarines. Contact Us.

Pump-jets are unlikely to produce noisy cavitation, and allow quieter running at higher speeds.

A total of ¥5.7 billion were allocated for this project. Unlike earlier Soryu boats, the final flight has swapped out its air-independent propulsion system for long-lasting lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)—a larger-scale, ruggedized adaptation of the lightweight, high-power-density batteries used in smartphones and laptops.

Propulsion: Diesel Electric Propulsion (with lithium-ion batteries), Legal / Privacy Policy

LIBs may allow a submarine captain more flexibility in aggressively using battery power—and a submarine running purely on battery with its diesels off can be quieter than a nuclear powered-submarine.

[24], The hull design of the Taigei-class is said to not differ too much from the Sōryū-class but will be 100 tons heavier than its predecessor. [14][15], In 2016, proposed research on new hull design to reduce fluid noise and a new sonar system to cope with the quietness of future foreign ships and submarines were evaluated. Diesel-electric submarines, however, can rarely afford to burn through battery with sustained high-speed cruising. A total of ¥800 million were used to fund project. A total of ¥4.4 billion are used in its development. It’s also estimated the 29SS will use two new larger-stroke Kawasaki 12V25/31S diesel engines producing 25 percent more electrical output. It is the successor to the Sōryū-class submarine.

The new sonars are to be introduced to next generation submarines operating from 2020's onward.

The technical data obtained would be used to aid in the design and construction of the new submarine class.

Key point: Tokyo is interested in a stealth submarine to deter China. The project aims to improve the efficiency and energy of the power storage and supply system by achieving high efficiency and miniaturization in the power supply system and increasing the capacity and density of the power storage system.