Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship
JS Aki being launched on 17 January 2020
|
History |
Japan |
Name | |
Namesake | Aki |
Ordered | 1 February 2018 |
Builder | Mitsui, Tamano |
Laid down | October 2018 |
Launched | 15 January 2020 |
Commissioned | 4 March 2021[1] |
Identification | Pennant number: AOS-5203 |
Status | Fitting out |
General characteristics |
Class and type | Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship |
Displacement | 2,850–3,800 long tons (2,896–3,861 t) full load |
Length | 67.0 m (219.8 ft) |
Beam | 29.9 m (98 ft) |
Draft | 7.5 m (25 ft) |
Propulsion | |
Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
Complement | 40 |
Sensors and processing systems |
- OPS-16
- OPS-9
- Sonar AN / UQQ-2
|
Aviation facilities | Helipad |
JS Aki (AOS-5203) is a Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Development and design
Hibiki-class vessels have a beam of 30 metres (98 ft 5 in), a top speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph), and a standard range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi).[3] Each vessel has a crew of 40, including five American civilian technicians, and a flight deck for helicopters to operate off of.[4][5] They are able to deploy on station for 90 days.[5]
The vessels have an AN/UQQ-2 Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS), which is installed in the United States.[6][5] Data from the sensors is relayed through the Defense Satellite Communications System, and processed and shared with the United States.[5] The data is fed into the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System.[7]
Propulsion is provided by four Mitsubishi S6U-MPTK diesel electric engines.[8]
Construction and career
Aki was laid down in October 2018 at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Tamano and launched on 15 January 2020. She was commissioned on 4 March 2021.[9]
References