Details of New Japanese 'Helicopter Destroyer'

[buglerbilly]

(Source: Forecast International; issued June 17, 2010)



TOKYO --- Rumors that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's third "aircraft carrying destroyer" would mark a major improvement in size and capability over the Hyuga class ships now entering service have been confirmed.

The new 22DDH will be 248 meters long and 39 meters in beam, and displace more than 24,000 tons. This makes her almost 50 percent larger than the Hyuga class and places an unbearable semantic strain on the use of the term "destroyer" to describe these ships. To put the size of the ship into context, she is comparable with a World War II Essex-class fleet carrier.

Illustrations of the 22DDH show her to be a full-fledged helicopter carrier with no real destroyer characteristics. The superstructure is very similar to that of the Hyuga class with the difference that the 01 deck is extended forward, probably to accommodate a vertical launch silo for air defense missiles. The point defenses of the new ships are more than doubled, with three Phalanx Mk 15 mountings and two RAM launchers replacing the pair of Phalanx mounts on the older ship. Significantly, while one of the Phalanx mounts on the Hyuga is situated forward on the flight deck, and thus obstructs fixed-wing operations, the 22DDH has all of its mounts located on sponsons clear of the flight deck itself.

The flight deck layout on the 22DDH differs significantly from that of the Hyuga class. One of the lifts has been moved from the centerline to the deck-edge position. The added width of the flight deck has been used to shift the axis of air operations clear of the remaining centerline elevator. The number of munitions elevators feeding the flight deck has been increased from two to four.

A vertical launch silo built into the rear of the flight deck on the Hyuga has been removed, once again reducing obstructions to flight operations. Flight deck operations capacity has been increased from two to seven helicopters.

Japanese accounts suggest that one of the reasons for the drastic increase in size of the 22DDH design is a planned shift to the V-22 Osprey as the primary air group element for these ships. It is not clear whether these would be replacements for or supplemental to the SH-60Ks that equip the Hyuga class. These accounts also make it clear that the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is seen as a key system for these ships. Apparently, provision for the operation of UAVs is being included within the design.

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[Deks]

They're not small, that's for sure. If the intent really is to carry the F-35B, surely the design should have a ski-jump? I suppose that if you're trying to fake-build a light-carrier it's best not to have it look like one until you've actually built the thing.

Can helicopters make use of a ski-jump, or are they useless in that context as I'd expect? I'm thinking in terms of heavily laden helicopters.

[buglerbilly]

They're not small, that's for sure. If the intent really is to carry the F-35B, surely the design should have a ski-jump? I suppose that if you're trying to fake-build a light-carrier it's best not to have it look like one until you've actually built the thing.

Can helicopters make use of a ski-jump, or are they useless in that context as I'd expect? I'm thinking in terms of heavily laden helicopters.

A ski-jump is irrelevant to a helicopter, loaded or not..........a hybrid is a different matter but that's long, long away..................

[Zen9]

USMC F35-Bs will operate much like the Harrier IIs from vessels without a ski-ramp. Its not necessary, though it does cut the deck run quite a bit.

The ramp is only a hinderence on a helicopter carrier.

The movement of the aft lift is quite significant, but it does impinge on the deck park. Looks like that area is about the same length as on the smaller DDH once you factor the lift is not something you can obstruct for operations.

[Gubler, A.]

Like the Wasp LHD the 22DDH has an extra 50m of flight deck run compared to the HMS Invincible (~200m) so the need for a ski ramp is less. Of course ski ramp is a goodness as long as the flight deck is under 500m.

Forecast is always good for a laugh. The 01 deck extended for VLS... how about extended for garages of flight deck vehicles and the like as in every other carrier/LHD/DDH with a similar feature?

[Gubler, A.]

Significantly, while one of the Phalanx mounts on the Hyuga is situated forward on the flight deck, and thus obstructs fixed-wing operations, the 22DDH has all of its mounts located on sponsons clear of the flight deck itself.

LOL, I missed this bit after the island deck extension nonsense. The forward port Phalanx is now in a position that obstructs fixed wing operations MORE than the forward starboard position of the Hyuga! In the later its over on the starboard and well out of everyone’s way when using the flight deck for a run up and over the bow takeoff. Sponsoned on the port and it is significantly in the way of anyone coming along side in a hover to land on (as in a Harrier or F-35B) as they now have to watch out for this R2D2 in front of them in case they overshoot. Also if the port wing of the STOVL jet has anyoverhang of the flight deck it will now run into the Phalanx on takeoff.

I always wondered where Forecast got their defence “expert commentators” from? Now I know: defence journalists!

[buglerbilly]

Japan to Build New Helicopter Carrier

(Source: Chosun Ilbo; published Sept. 15, 2011)


Japan operates two helicopter carriers, but now plans to buy a bigger ship, displacing about 19,500 tonnes and carrying 14 helicopters. (JMSDF photo)

TOKYO --- Japan plans to build a 19,500-ton aircraft carrier capable of housing helicopters after China launched its first own aircraft carrier, Chinese media reported on Wednesday. Japan already has two helicopter carriers -- the Hyuga deployed in March 2009 and the Ise deployed in March 2011 -- but the planned new vessel will be bigger.

The 22DDH is scheduled for deployment in 2015. It will be 248 m long and cost around US$1.04 billion. It is 30 percent bigger than the Ise and can carry 14 helicopters. The Ise measures 197 m, has a displacement of 13,500 tons and can carry 11 helicopters.

Although dwarfed by China's aircraft carrier, which is 320 m long and can carry 50 fighter jets, the Japanese vessel will be equipped with the latest U.S. weapons systems to maximize its capability. It will be equipped with the Raytheon air and missile defense system, which has so far only been installed on U.S. vessels, and 11 missile launchers.

Japan had several aircraft carriers during World War II, but since its defeat it has focused on developing helicopter carriers, which are deemed purely defensive. It appears to be bolstering defenses to counter China's increasing submarine warfare capabilities. The new carrier will house mainly helicopters designed for anti-submarine warfare operations.

There are increasing calls within Japan to modify the 22DDH for fighter jets. But critics say it would be unrealistic to build such an aircraft carrier since its navy has only 45,000 personnel, and the already indebted government would run deeper into debt.

Chinese media speculated that Japan could buy Lookheed Martin F-35B stealth fighters capable of vertical takeoff and landing and base them on the new carrier.

Japan is also speeding up the development of stealth fighters and drones. Since 2009, it has invested 39 billion yen (around W562.2 billion) on development of an indigenous stealth fighter codenamed ATD-X. A prototype is expected to be unveiled in 2014, and development is to be complete in 2016.

Japan's Defense Ministry is also spending 15 billion yen this year on developing drones and robots. One unmanned helicopter has already been deployed with the Self-Defense Forces, while four prototype drones have been developed.

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