Japan will build a destroyer with the Aegis Ashore missile defense system at a cost of $7.1 billion
The Japanese Defense Ministry insists on building a destroyer equipped with the Aegis Ashore missile defense system. Although there have been rumors of the project being closed due to extremely high costs.
Here's What We Know
The US Navy's most expensive destroyer, the Zumwalt-class destroyer of the same name, costs about $9 billion. The Japanese destroyer will cost $7.1 billion. Funds for its construction are to be budgeted in Japan for 2024. The Ministry of Defense is already preparing an official application.
The new ship will be the largest destroyer in the Navy of the Land of the Rising Sun. In terms of dimensions it will be comparable to aircraft carriers. The destroyer will be 210 meters long and 40 meters wide, with a displacement of 20,000 tons. The new ship is expected to be commissioned by the end of fiscal year 2027.
For comparison, Japan's current largest destroyer is 170 meters long and 21 meters wide. However, Japan has a ship that is 248 meters long and 38 meters wide with a displacement of almost 20,000 tons. It is the destroyer Izumo, which has been turned into an aircraft carrier.
Source: Asia Times
Image: Wikipedia