The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the Hatsuyuki class) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of a COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine: a modification of the combined gas and gas propulsion system employing electric propulsion system for low-speed cruising) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.[3][4]
Design
The Asahi class is based on the existing Akizuki-class destroyer to reduce acquisition cost and allow future development and growth. Unlike the Akizuki class, which focuses on anti-aircraft warfare, the Asahi class focuses on anti-submarine warfare.[5]
Features
The Asahi class is the first class of Japanese warships to be equipped with a COGLAG propulsion system, allowing the class to be more fuel efficient than previous warships. Another unique feature of this destroyer is the usage of a GaN-AESA (gallium nitride - active electronically scanned array) multifunction radar. The Asahi class is the second Japanese class of warship to be outfitted with this technology (the Akizuki class was the first). The destroyer's radar is based on the FCS-3A radar used for the Akizuki class and uses gallium nitride to improve performance.[5] In radar technology, gallium nitride offers a number of advantages over the typically used gallium arsenide (GaA). These advantages include higher power density, efficiency, thermal spreading and frequency coverage. In turn, this allows the GaN chip to be smaller than their GaA counterpart, thus reducing cost and increasing overall cost effectiveness.[6]
^Whelan, Colin S.; Kolias, Nicholas J.; Brierley, Steven; MacDonald, Chris & Bernstein, Steven (23–26 April 2012). "GaN Technology for Radars"(PDF). pairserver. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
