Japanese destroyer visits Vietnam

With the consent of the Vietnamese Government, the Fuyuzuki frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and its crew arrived at Cam Ranh International Port - Khanh Hoa, beginning a friendship visit to Vietnam from April 11 to 15.

The visit of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship took place in the context of the two countries' relations in general and defense relations in particular being constantly consolidated and enhanced.

During their visit to Vietnam, the delegation will pay a courtesy visit to the leaders of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, the Commander of Naval Region 4 and visit ships of the Vietnam Navy. The delegation will also play a friendly volleyball match with officers and soldiers of Naval Region 4.

According to Infonet, the Fuyuzuki (Winter Moon) destroyer with the registration number DD-118 is the last ship of the Akizuki class of destroyers, which was laid down at the Mitsui (Tamano) factory on June 14, 2011, and officially commissioned into the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on April 13, 2014.

The ship cost nearly 1 billion USD to build (in 2009), has a full displacement of 6,800 tons, is 150m long, and has a crew of 200 people.

The Akizuki-class destroyers were designed to escort the helicopter destroyers Hyuga and Izumo, and the missile destroyers Kongo and Atago. They can also take on offensive roles against surface/subsurface and air targets.

The Akizuki-class destroyer is considered a modernized variant of the Takanai-class, with the mission of "shielding" threats in the air and at sea for the large destroyers Kongo, Hyuga, and Izumo. It is equipped with a series of improvements, such as reducing the radar reflection area; equipping anti-torpedo decoys; equipping the ATECS combat control system (also known as the Japanese Aegis system); improving engines, sensors, and sonar.

One of the electronic technology highlights on Japanese warships exercising in the East Sea is the FCS-3 integrated naval weapons management system, including: Fire control subsystem and weapon target indication; multi-function radar system.

The second technological highlight on the Akizuki-class destroyers is the OYQ-11 advanced combat command subsystem (ACDS).

To become a "shield" for the destroyers Kongo, Hyuga..., JDS Fuyuzuki is equipped with a Mk41 vertical launch system (32 tubes) that can fire RIM-162 ESSM air defense missiles.

The US-made RIM-162 ESSM missile is designed primarily for the mission of shooting down supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles. The missile has a range of up to 50km, a flight speed of Mach 4+, and is equipped with a semi-active radar homing head.

To counter surface ships, the Fuyuzuki warship is equipped with the Type 90 anti-ship cruise missile complex (SSM-1B) with a maximum range of 150km, carrying a 225kg warhead.

In anti-submarine warfare, Fuyuzuki is equipped with Type 07 anti-submarine missiles (fired from Mk-41 launchers) and two 324mm HOS-303 lightweight torpedo launchers (copy of the US Mk 32 SVTT model) combined with the OQQ-22 integrated sonar system (including under-hull sonar and towed sonar) providing relatively strong anti-submarine capabilities.

The naval artillery system on this warship includes a 127mm Mk45 Mod 4 naval gun with a range of up to 37km thanks to a longer barrel than the previous generation, a bullet velocity of 807.7m/s and two Phalanx Block1b CIWS high-speed anti-aircraft artillery platforms equipped with 6-barreled 20mm guns with a firing rate of 4,500 rounds/minute, an effective range of 3.5km.

The stern of the ship can carry an additional SH-60K anti-submarine helicopter.

According to Infonet