JS Kaga

JS Kaga (DDH-184) is a helicopter carrier with a planned future conversion into an aircraft carrier. Officially classified as a multi-purpose operation destroyer, she is the second ship in the Izumo class of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). [1][2][3] Her namesake arises from Kaga Province (加賀国, Kaga no kuni) in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture.

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Kaga.
JS Kaga (DDH-184) in August 2015
History
Japan
Name: JS Kaga
Namesake: Kaga Province
Ordered: 2010
Laid down: 7 October 2013
Launched: 27 August 2015
Commissioned: 22 March 2017
Identification:
General characteristics
Class and type: Izumo-class aircraft carrier
Displacement:
  • 19,500 long tons (19,800 t) standard;
  • 27,000 long tons (27,000 t) full load
Length: 248 m (814 ft)
Beam: 38 m (125 ft)
Draft: 7.5 m (25 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: more than 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • OYQ-12 combat direction system
  • FCS-3 fire control system
  • OPS-50 AESA radar
  • OPS-28 surface-search radar
  • OQQ-23 bow sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • NOLQ-3D-1 EW suite
  • Mark 36 SRBOC
  • Anti-torpedo mobile decoy (MOD)
  • Floating acoustic jammer (FAJ)
Armament:
Aircraft carried:
  • 7 ASW helicopters and 2 SAR helicopters
  • 28 aircraft maximum

The ship bears the same name, and is slightly longer in length than the aircraft carrier Kaga, which served in the Imperial Japanese navy in WWII and led the attack on Pearl Harbor. The original Kaga was scuttled in June 1942 after Battle of Midway.

Construction

Kaga is intended to replace the aging Shirane-class destroyer Kurama, based on the schedule outlined within the 23 Mid-term Defence Capability Maintenance Plan to construct a 19,500-ton helicopter destroyer. Construction began at the Yokohama plant of Japan Marine United on 7 October 2013, and the ship was launched on 27 August 2015, with plans for commission in March 2017.[4] Construction of the ship cost 115.5 billion yen (~1 billion $).[5][6]

Characteristics

Aircraft carried

The ship can host up to 28 aircraft,[7] or 14 larger aircraft.[8] However, only 7 anti-submarine warfare helicopters and 2 search and rescue helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5-ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has five helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings or take-offs.

In 2010, Forecast International reported that some design features were intended to support fixed wing aircraft such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II;[9] as of 2019 both Kaga and Izumo are scheduled to be refit to accommodate the F-35B STOVL variant, Kaga during its five-year overhaul in 2022. [10]

Air-defense

The ship is equipped with two Phalanx CIWS and two SeaRAM for her defense.[11]

Operational history

Kaga toured the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in 2018 in order to bolster Japan's presence in geostrategic waters, according to press reports.[12]

Photos
  • JS Kaga
  • JS Kaga right front view at Port of Kanazawa (15 July 2017)
  • Kaga stern view, July 2017

References
  1. "海自のヘリコプター搭載護衛艦、「かが」と命名". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). August 27, 2015.
  2. "新護衛艦「かが」：旧日本海軍の空母「加賀」　その違いは". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). August 27, 2015. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  3. Sam LaGrone (August 27, 2015). "Japan Launches Latest Helicopter Carrier". United States Naval Institute.
  4. "海自最大の護衛艦「かが」進水　ヘリ９機を同時運用". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). August 27, 2015.
  5. 平成24年度予算の概要 Archived 2012-11-13 at the Wayback Machine 防衛省、2頁
  6. 平成24年度防衛関係予算のポイント 財務省、10頁
  7. http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/22ddh.htm
  8. Hardy, James (25 March 2015). "Japan commissions helicopter carrier Izumo". janes.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  9. Forecast International (21 June 2010). "Details of New Japanese 'Helicopter Destroyer'". Defensetalk.
  10. "USMC to Fly First F-35B from Japan's Izumo-class Aircraft Carriers". navalnews.com. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  11. "ＩＨＩＭＵ、防衛省から平成２２年度計画ヘリコプター搭載護衛艦を受注". Nikkei Shimbun. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  12. Kubo, Nobuhiro; Kelly, Tim (July 4, 2018). Birsel, Robert (ed.). "Exclusive: Japanese helicopter carrier to tour South China Sea, Indian Ocean for two months". Reuters. Japan will send a large helicopter carrier to the South China Sea and Indian Ocean for a second straight year as it looks to bolster its presence in the strategic maritime region with annual tours, two Japanese officials said.
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