Reference News Network, November 14 report. According to Japan's "Mainichi Shimbun" on November 14, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's new "human resource-saving" patrol ship was launched on the 13th. This new type of vessel is specifically designed for routine patrols around Japan's surrounding waters, with a design concept of saving human resources, including streamlining weapons equipment and introducing drones. It is expected that the crew will be 30 people, requiring only a small number of personnel to operate, which is one-third the size of the advanced "Mutsuki"-class frigates. It is expected that two ships of this model will be successively commissioned starting in January 2027.
About 100 people attended the launching ceremony held at the Ishikawa factory of Japan Marine United Corporation in Ishikawa Ward, Yokohama City. The first ship was named "Sakura" (Cherry Blossom), and the second ship was named "Tachibana" (Orange).
The two ships are 95 meters long, 12 meters wide, and have a standard displacement of 1900 tons, half that of the "Mutsuki"-class ships. They are equipped with only one 30-mm machine gun, without missiles or torpedoes required for anti-ship, air defense, or anti-submarine warfare, and rely on U.S.-made V-BAT drones for aerial surveillance, without carrying helicopters. The V-BAT drone is equipped with high-performance cameras and sensors and has the capability for vertical takeoff and landing.
In the fiscal year 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Japan Marine United Corporation to build four ships of this model, with a total cost of 3.16 billion yen (approximately 1.45 billion Chinese yuan). In the budget application for the fiscal year 2026, an additional 2.87 billion yen was added to build two more ships. The goal is to deploy 10 ships before the 2027 fiscal year.
The report also said that according to a senior official from the Self-Defense Forces, although the Maritime Self-Defense Force mainly relies on frigates and patrol aircraft for surveillance and patrol missions, it currently also deploys small vessels to "respond to crises," such as minesweepers and missile boats with standard displacements of 500 tons and 200 tons, as well as non-combat supply ships and multi-purpose support ships. The deployment of patrol ships is expected to create an environment where frigates can better focus on various training activities.
The report stated that at a regular press conference on the 11th, the Chief of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Saito Satoshi, said: "The burden on the Maritime Self-Defense Force members has significantly increased, so we are promoting personnel optimization and automation transformation. In the future, we will also consider the possibility of introducing unmanned patrol ships." (Translation/ Liu Lin)
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