I think we have "better" chance with a SECDEF and SECNAV who are outsiders and who will ask hard questions of, and give full backing to a CNO focused on naval campaigns and projecting seapower on behalf of our republic. I qualify "better" with the observation that the last two decades have been demonstrably in the wrong direction.
At this point, I think DOGE should clean out NAVSEA and DOGE should force the US Navy to buy a proven design and build under DOGE supervision.
For example, they should revamp the Constellation class Frigate by going back to the original FREMM frigate design and work within the hull. We simply install all our weapons, systems, software, propulsion and power plant.
As for the CG(X), just make a deal with Japan and south Korea to build our Cruisers with our installed weapons, systems, software, propulsion and power plant. They can turn out a ship faster than we can.
No water on Mars or any other potential off-world location for the foreseeable future, so shipbuilding is not in Elon Musk's future (although well within his capabilities to organize and execute). He' s not in EVs for the money—he's there to drive battery technology for off-world vehicles (no fossil fuels on Mars either). I leave it as an exercise for the reader to suss out how his reusable (cheap) space vehicles, tunnel boring, orbital comm network, and linking the human brain to computers are related to Elon Musk's raison d'être.
It’s in the works. But the approach will have to be different. DOD’s issues are mostly in process and paperwork…it’s the best example of the Iron Law of Bureaucracy out there.
The problem is that a modern warship IS the sensors, weapons, and software. The hull is a truck. The issues with the Constellation are due to shoving an American sensor and weapon package into a hull not designed around them.
Sort of...NAVSEA wanted (demanded) a more robust engine room with dual compartmentalization, versus the original FREMM design which is a single-compartment. The additional framing in the redesign resulted in 24' more feet in length and 500 additional tons. Had there been a CNO & SECNAV more involved in this project, they could've maintained focus, shepherded the initial design into the water and dream-up a Flight-II after the initial batch was completed.
Is there any reason not to build more Ticos? Sure update the electronics, newest versions of SMs, but is not the basic hull and engineering plant sound?
Mr T. is a big fan of US labor content. For a proper CG, the hull design of the Baltimore class exists. W/O the big heavy turrets a designer can load that baby up. Imagine how much fuel could be stored.
They did that with the Constellation-class Frigates. It was supposed to be 80% COTS, 20% unique.
They have yet to splash ship 1 and it's 80% unique, 20% COTS, over budget, behind schedule, and damned near the same size as a destroyer 7300 tons/151 meters vs 9700 tons/155 meters
An interesting video about the CONSTELATION pending debacle just published by Sub Brief @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkX7Txgeak .. looks like the same guy that brought you LCS is in charge of this new evolving mess at NAVSEA
DOGE needs to take a deep, hard look at the whole SCN procurement process from LPD to Present. Not just what happen and why, but WHO, by name, did it, WHO by name signed off on it and WHO, by name, got paid for it. Then track the money from disbursement and initial deposit through the financial maze to final deposit ie "cui bono". Hell, invite DOJ to the party and subpoenas for everybody!
Your last sentence is on track but I'm thinking GCM's for nearly everybody associated with ship procurement for the last generation. If convicted of malfeasance; then busted and confined at Leavenworth.
Well, subpoenas are the beginning, GCM or indictment in a US District Court would be the final outcome when warranted. I'm sure a grunch of DoN civilian employees are neck deep in these SCN boondoggles.
Six months ago I would have thought this overwrought. Occam's Razor and all that, just incompetence due to faulty schools, gubmint worker thinking, yada, yada, yada.
But after the revelations of the last month and a half, actual corruption seems to be a more likely answer. Though perhaps still coupled, or piggybacked, on incompetence.
Have to load missles from helo in crates. Have to get a rail launcher (Talos type) to back up the VLS cells. One could store hundreds if lain flat in a magazine.
I'm familiar with the MK-13 of the FFG-7s. Had a round mag below the rail. Advantage over the older systems was fewer people needed in to operate the system. And footprint probably wasn't much less efficient than the flat stacks.
The biggest issue is reloading at sea. Never had the joy of that with the Mk-13, though did it pier side several times. If a bit of heavy seas it would have been problematic out there on the focsle, but it could be done. VLS, no way in flat seas apparently.
VLS sort of makes sense, up until you talk about reloads. At which point we give away the largest advantage the USN has in a prolonged fight.
I'm with you, my feeling 40 years ago was what you left the pier with on D-0 was what you had to fight the war with. It certainly hasn't gotten any better since then.
Why couldn't you dust off the drawings for the AEGIS cruisers hull, take the superstructure off the top, add the new advanced radars on a slimmed down superstructure. You could probably find room for more VLS, extra electrical load, and some phaser cannons.
Use the Cruiser baseline study. Use a Zumwalt size or larger, but normal design, hull and an improved engine/electrical system. Two sets of 64 VLS cells with maybe a smaller set for special load/larger missiles plus 2 5 inch guns, and leave space for newer things. Finally a modified Burke deckhouse.
Considering the cost of airstrikes against cucks like the Houthis, perhaps there ought to be an 8"/55 Mk 71 gun that had previously been mounted on the destroyer USS Hull. Seems that bombarding the bastards with a 280 lb shell would be much more cost effective than F-18 airstrikes.
Will the New Japanese ASEV ships use USN approvedor supplied Radar, ASW, 5" and CIWS?
If so would it be appropriate to have them & our shipyards build 20-30 of them? Seems like a win for the USN, US Suppliers and America...but what do I know, never having been in the USN, only a lowly successful business owner and service provider..
I'm missing something with your comment - unless I missed the sarcasm tag. If so, my fault, and you have my apologies.
But the idea of buying an existing, foreign design was IT WAS AN EXISTING DESIGN, that worked pretty well. That 20% changed stuff? It was supposed to be bolt-on existing tech and weapons.
That was absolutely never the real plan. Look at what we know and when we know it. This video explains how the reqs forced the changes which should self evidently be over 20%. They talk about the change to 3MW gensets (also American made not Italian). This was SNA 2020 ahead of the award.
Sal- another critical capability for ASEV- it will deploy the most-advanced BMD capacity in the world, bare none, with its SPY-7 radar system mated to the latest AEGIS. (The ongoing USN SPY-6 upgrade program will not deliver this true BMD capacity to the fleet until at least 2027, see recent CRS report.)
DOD/MDA successfully tested SPY-7 system from Guam in December, taking down an incoming IRBM, with SPY-7 now being deployed in two other foreign navies on frigate-class hulls.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Japan’s MoD Unveils Latest Image of ASEV
Published on 12/07/2024
By Kosuke Takahashi
In News
Japan’s MoD Unveils Latest Image Of ASEV
Latest image of ASEV
In its latest defense white paper, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has unveiled the latest image of the Aegis system equipped vessel (ASEV) with some explanations.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) plans to procure two ASEVs, which are alternatives to Japan’s now-defunct land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. The first ASEV is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of March 2028, and the second by the end of March 2029.
The newest image released in the 2024 defense white paper, published on July 12, 2024, shows the continuing progress in detailed design of the ASEV.
For one thing, apparently, the design of the bridge structure follows the Maya-class Aegis destroyer, but the window shape on the bridge is horizontal like the Mogami-class frigate, also known as FFM, which is designed to improve visibility while also accommodating a smaller number of bridge staff due to manpower reduction.
The configuration of the main armament used by the ASEV also appears similar to that of the Maya-class, including a Mk-45 (Mod.4) 5-inch/62-caliber (127mm) main gun.
It remains to be seen whether the ASEV will be installed with equipment similar to the OAX-3 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor system, installed on the FFM, to improve all-round surveillance and vigilance.
A Japanese naval expert familiar with the design of world warships told Naval News on the condition of anonymity that it appears that aerials and other equipment are concentrated on the protrusion around the outer periphery of the first funnel.
“I wondered if there would be any issues with heat caused by the main engine’s exhaust smoke or the effects of radio interference in that area,” the expert pointed out, adding “This is the first time I’ve seen this type of outfitting, so it’s interesting.”
The expert also focused on about the structures of the first and second funnels.
“On a conventional ship, SSMs would be installed there. The reason some structure is placed in the area that will become the deck working passage may be to allow for extra space in the future to accommodate additional long-range missiles, etc.,” the expert said.
A former JMSDF officer also told Naval News on condition of anonymity that the ASEV is still in the design stage, and expects details will continue to be changed depending on the design.
“In the future, like the Mogami-class frigate, the hull will be equipped with more hatches on the sides to hide equipment and improve its stealth capabilities,” the former officer said.
ASEV weapon and sensor systems
The two ASEVs are set to be fitted with the Lockheed Martin SPY-7, originally procured for Aegis Ashore, and the version of the Aegis system is the J7.B, which has been modified to integrate the SPY-7 into Baseline 9 (BL9).
On April 4, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced it had successfully demonstrated the first live track AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar, or the SPY-7, for the ASEV.
The MoD said in the latest white paper that the SPY-7 has five times the tracking capability of the SPY-1 and can deal with missiles launched on lofted trajectories and multiple ballistic missiles fired simultaneously.
The ASEV vessels will feature an impressive 128 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. This is more than the Maya-class destroyer’s 96 cells of Mk41 VLS (64 cells forward and 32 cells aft).
The MoD explains that the ASEV’s VLS will be given expandability to accommodate future equipment to deal with Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) during the gliding phase.
ASEV
An early rendering of ASEV. Translation: The Aegis system equipped vessel (image). The image shows an ASEV intercepting various targets: A sea skimming cruise missile, two hypersonic glide vehicles (or ballistic missiles’ reentry vehicles) and a swarm of UAVs. (Image credit: Japanese Ministry of Defense)
Other weapon systems of the ASEV include:
SM-6 also known as RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM)
SM-3 Block IIIA Surface to Air Missiles
Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) that enables the vessels to remotely fire anti-aircraft targets tracked by other ships and so on.
Equipment planned for installation after 2023 (expandability/future growth):
The upgraded Type 12 SSM to deal with enemy fleets from outside their threat range in surface warfare
Tomahawk missiles to deal with ground forces from outside the enemy’s threat range in island defense
High-power lasers, etc. to dealing with drone saturation attacks
The MoD has begun construction of two ASEV from this fiscal year 2024. It has allocated 373.1 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in this fiscal year’s budget for acquisition costs, including construction costs. In addition, it has secured 81.5 billion yen($504 million) for related expenses such as various test preparations and operational support facilities such as test sites. So in total, a whopping 454.6 billion yen ($2.81 billion) has been allocated for the expenses of the ASEVs in the fiscal year 2024 alone.
According to the MoD, the size of the ASEV is 190 meters in length, 25 meters in width, and a standard displacement of 12,000 tons. In comparison, the JMSDF’s latest Aegis ship, the Maya-class, is 170 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and has a standard displacement of 8,200 tons. The ASEV is also 1.7 times larger than the U.S. Navy’s latest Aegis ship, the Arleigh Burke Flight III, in tons.
The MoD stresses the ASEV will have capabilities equal to or greater than those of the most advanced Aegis ships.
I just compared the current surface fleets of Japan and Britain.
Japan is rocking almost 3x the number of destroyers and frigates. Yes, the UK has 2 fleet carriers compared to the smaller Japanese escort carriers. And SSNs over Japanese diesel electric subs. But my, the Royal Navy has declined.
What the (expletive) is the poorly designed process that causes these issues?
ADM Richardson was plucked from Naval Reactors/NAVSEA 08 to ensure the COLUMBIA class got through the process. That gives me a feeling about how broken the process is, that the organization nominally responsible, has to be specially supervised. How did we used to design and build warships successfully? Can we implement that again?
John Richard’s was made CNO earlier than expected in order to prevent that position from going to Michelle Howard. She was so awful she made Lisa Franchetti look like John Paul Jones. Another example of how DEI can wreck an organization
Some of the best cars on America's roads are built in Japan. As alluded to elsewhere: Pay them to build our new cruisers. The ATS-1 class were built in the UK successfully so there's precedent. Yeah, I know, politics.
Yeah. Like I said. Still, if only we could see "Our" way clear to do it. I have many fond memories of SRF Sasebo, with great work done at reasonable prices by a motivated and dedicated work force.
Ok . . . I like the Spruance hull but it has problems when encumbered by more displacement on it. The TICOs made displacement go from 6,900 tons (DD-963) to 9,600 tons (CG-47). The naval architects that did that were so uniformed, qualified(?), and ready for the modification . . . that I was one of the few who came back to the shipyard from leave . . . and actually say the waterline many feet underwater at the Warf in Pascagoula because we were no longer in the Drydock. Qualified Naval Architects? Back to the Drydock we went to get a new paint job, but that had to waite for an underway period (Sea Trial) in our aggressive timeline.
One would think that we have better people in NAVSEA today . . . than we did back then . . . BUT . . . NOPE!!!
As stated in the article . . . LCS, DDG-1000, and now FFG-62 speak volumes. The LPD-17 initial delivery before all the problems were fixed . . . same comment! Until the May issue of the new (or finally developed) Detailed Design for the Frigate comes out . . . we shall see! If not . . . CLEAN HOUSE . . . these folks are just occupying space and taking tax dollars as fast as they can. They protect themselves by using their power and influence to remove anyone qualified to comment form the equation.
Concerning guns . . . two 5" Mk45 gun mounts provides 1,200 rounds of weapons coming out the barrel with Dual Engagement capability possible. That will represent guided rounds with significant capability increases soon. So 1,200 is a much larger number over 128 VLS cells with $multi-million missiles coming out. Once again . . . the MISSILE LOBY!
This guided projectile gun argument was being made back in the 1980s when we were on Unit #1 (USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)), and the Dahlgren Gun Shop was on board and working on it. Industry drug the Politicians by the nose, closed the gun shop guided projectile program (or just DEFUNDED IT), and the rest is HiStory. The MISSILE LOBBY (name came from THOSE DAYS) reigns. Sad state of affairs. Today we have 30-50mm rounds with more capability than 5" rounds.
Do you think we have chance with the new Sec Defense and CNO?
Yes
I have my doubts.
SECDEF...yes. CNO? We don't have one right now. The guy in the chair is acting CNO only. Wait and see.
I think we have "better" chance with a SECDEF and SECNAV who are outsiders and who will ask hard questions of, and give full backing to a CNO focused on naval campaigns and projecting seapower on behalf of our republic. I qualify "better" with the observation that the last two decades have been demonstrably in the wrong direction.
Add to that Senator Wicker as Chairman of the SASC. He's all in on a Navy rebuild.
Can we be first to nominate S. Paparo ?
Needs to be SECNAV and CNO. The Navy needs to stand up and assert priority for funding. WestPac ainʻt gonna be an Army or Air Force fight.
At this point, I think DOGE should clean out NAVSEA and DOGE should force the US Navy to buy a proven design and build under DOGE supervision.
For example, they should revamp the Constellation class Frigate by going back to the original FREMM frigate design and work within the hull. We simply install all our weapons, systems, software, propulsion and power plant.
As for the CG(X), just make a deal with Japan and south Korea to build our Cruisers with our installed weapons, systems, software, propulsion and power plant. They can turn out a ship faster than we can.
Dunno about the design stuff, but I'm aboard with the DOGE mission and Japanese shipbuilding. I drive a Lexus.
Elon Musk (or some other smart US smarties), if he is smart should ditch Tesla and EVs and instead put his money and investments into shipbuilding.
There's less and less money to be made in EVs as they are maturing in technology and manufacturing. It is a race to the bottom on price point.
Many countries and nations are going to want some smart frigates if they can't afford a TICO or DDG(X) Aegis system for the next 30 years.
The world is degenerating into 3-4 military and trading blocks.
No water on Mars or any other potential off-world location for the foreseeable future, so shipbuilding is not in Elon Musk's future (although well within his capabilities to organize and execute). He' s not in EVs for the money—he's there to drive battery technology for off-world vehicles (no fossil fuels on Mars either). I leave it as an exercise for the reader to suss out how his reusable (cheap) space vehicles, tunnel boring, orbital comm network, and linking the human brain to computers are related to Elon Musk's raison d'être.
Can you Imaging what DOGE would do to the DoD, NAVSEA and all the DoD programs. I think DOGE should Audit the entire DoD
It’s in the works. But the approach will have to be different. DOD’s issues are mostly in process and paperwork…it’s the best example of the Iron Law of Bureaucracy out there.
The problem is that a modern warship IS the sensors, weapons, and software. The hull is a truck. The issues with the Constellation are due to shoving an American sensor and weapon package into a hull not designed around them.
Sort of...NAVSEA wanted (demanded) a more robust engine room with dual compartmentalization, versus the original FREMM design which is a single-compartment. The additional framing in the redesign resulted in 24' more feet in length and 500 additional tons. Had there been a CNO & SECNAV more involved in this project, they could've maintained focus, shepherded the initial design into the water and dream-up a Flight-II after the initial batch was completed.
You can live with 16 tactical length Mk 41, Mk 110, and rotating EASR?
Is there any reason not to build more Ticos? Sure update the electronics, newest versions of SMs, but is not the basic hull and engineering plant sound?
Mr T. is a big fan of US labor content. For a proper CG, the hull design of the Baltimore class exists. W/O the big heavy turrets a designer can load that baby up. Imagine how much fuel could be stored.
They did that with the Constellation-class Frigates. It was supposed to be 80% COTS, 20% unique.
They have yet to splash ship 1 and it's 80% unique, 20% COTS, over budget, behind schedule, and damned near the same size as a destroyer 7300 tons/151 meters vs 9700 tons/155 meters
An interesting video about the CONSTELATION pending debacle just published by Sub Brief @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkX7Txgeak .. looks like the same guy that brought you LCS is in charge of this new evolving mess at NAVSEA
DOGE needs to take a deep, hard look at the whole SCN procurement process from LPD to Present. Not just what happen and why, but WHO, by name, did it, WHO by name signed off on it and WHO, by name, got paid for it. Then track the money from disbursement and initial deposit through the financial maze to final deposit ie "cui bono". Hell, invite DOJ to the party and subpoenas for everybody!
Your last sentence is on track but I'm thinking GCM's for nearly everybody associated with ship procurement for the last generation. If convicted of malfeasance; then busted and confined at Leavenworth.
Well, subpoenas are the beginning, GCM or indictment in a US District Court would be the final outcome when warranted. I'm sure a grunch of DoN civilian employees are neck deep in these SCN boondoggles.
Six months ago I would have thought this overwrought. Occam's Razor and all that, just incompetence due to faulty schools, gubmint worker thinking, yada, yada, yada.
But after the revelations of the last month and a half, actual corruption seems to be a more likely answer. Though perhaps still coupled, or piggybacked, on incompetence.
You're correct. The two are not mutually exclusive. I'm pretty sure, there is a strong correlation between the two.
Nah. Send them to Shemya for winter snow clearance details.
It seems like we always either want to reinvent the wheel or put too many bells and whistles on our hulls.
Exactly. Maybe sculpt the superstructure and masts to stealth them, but the ships themselves have been exemplary.
Oh, and stuff in more VLS, cause we ain't reloading as sea.
Have to load missles from helo in crates. Have to get a rail launcher (Talos type) to back up the VLS cells. One could store hundreds if lain flat in a magazine.
I'm familiar with the MK-13 of the FFG-7s. Had a round mag below the rail. Advantage over the older systems was fewer people needed in to operate the system. And footprint probably wasn't much less efficient than the flat stacks.
The biggest issue is reloading at sea. Never had the joy of that with the Mk-13, though did it pier side several times. If a bit of heavy seas it would have been problematic out there on the focsle, but it could be done. VLS, no way in flat seas apparently.
VLS sort of makes sense, up until you talk about reloads. At which point we give away the largest advantage the USN has in a prolonged fight.
This assumes we have reloads. I'm not so sure about that.
Okay, you got me there!
I'm with you, my feeling 40 years ago was what you left the pier with on D-0 was what you had to fight the war with. It certainly hasn't gotten any better since then.
When you have to return to a sheltered port to reload, hopefully the port will be closer than Bremerton, San Diego, or even Pearl.
Because honestly, what kind of enemy would leave Guam alone on D+0?
Maybe, a reload at sea capacity should be a top priority. Even if a couple of cells are sacrificed.
Just like building inspectors, if you don't add a suggestion or two someone would think you're not working.
Why couldn't you dust off the drawings for the AEGIS cruisers hull, take the superstructure off the top, add the new advanced radars on a slimmed down superstructure. You could probably find room for more VLS, extra electrical load, and some phaser cannons.
Electrical generation capacity is a big issue. Current weapons and radar, plus future systems, are going to be energy HOGS!
Use the Cruiser baseline study. Use a Zumwalt size or larger, but normal design, hull and an improved engine/electrical system. Two sets of 64 VLS cells with maybe a smaller set for special load/larger missiles plus 2 5 inch guns, and leave space for newer things. Finally a modified Burke deckhouse.
Considering the cost of airstrikes against cucks like the Houthis, perhaps there ought to be an 8"/55 Mk 71 gun that had previously been mounted on the destroyer USS Hull. Seems that bombarding the bastards with a 280 lb shell would be much more cost effective than F-18 airstrikes.
But, is there room for Photon Torpedos?
Will the New Japanese ASEV ships use USN approvedor supplied Radar, ASW, 5" and CIWS?
If so would it be appropriate to have them & our shipyards build 20-30 of them? Seems like a win for the USN, US Suppliers and America...but what do I know, never having been in the USN, only a lowly successful business owner and service provider..
The trick would be finding shipyards with capacity to build anything in the next couple years.
Well, that and keeping NAVSEA out of it so they don't screw it up. Again.
Intel's recipe for success is called "Copy Exactly!" Works for CPU's world wide
"You have one job, NAVSEA.... COPY IT EXACTLY."
Then we maybe let them play with the design, Commander
NO! We don't let those bozos "play" with ANYTHING - except maybe themselves.
If they want to play with anything, send them to McMurdo to main paths through the snow in winter.
NAVSEA screwed the pooch with the Constellation-class. They get no more drafting pencils until the rot is burned, poisoned, cut out.
If that takes generations, then....
The President, Congress, and naval leadership screwed that pooch before Navsea even caught the scent.
How so?
1. Build based on in service design. No engineer, even a novice, would link the requirements document to the Italian Fremm design by choice.
2. We picked this ship and I made it prettier, because Wisconsin is a swing state - POTUS
3. Requirement to add SM-6 and Tomahawk - U.S. Congress.
I'm missing something with your comment - unless I missed the sarcasm tag. If so, my fault, and you have my apologies.
But the idea of buying an existing, foreign design was IT WAS AN EXISTING DESIGN, that worked pretty well. That 20% changed stuff? It was supposed to be bolt-on existing tech and weapons.
That was absolutely never the real plan. Look at what we know and when we know it. This video explains how the reqs forced the changes which should self evidently be over 20%. They talk about the change to 3MW gensets (also American made not Italian). This was SNA 2020 ahead of the award.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXSL6B5EwWQ
The GFE list was presented at SNA January 2019.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation-class_frigate#/media/File:Proposed_Government_Furnished_Equipment_for_FFG(X).png
Lets buy some!
Sal- another critical capability for ASEV- it will deploy the most-advanced BMD capacity in the world, bare none, with its SPY-7 radar system mated to the latest AEGIS. (The ongoing USN SPY-6 upgrade program will not deliver this true BMD capacity to the fleet until at least 2027, see recent CRS report.)
DOD/MDA successfully tested SPY-7 system from Guam in December, taking down an incoming IRBM, with SPY-7 now being deployed in two other foreign navies on frigate-class hulls.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Japan’s MoD Unveils Latest Image of ASEV
Published on 12/07/2024
By Kosuke Takahashi
In News
Japan’s MoD Unveils Latest Image Of ASEV
Latest image of ASEV
In its latest defense white paper, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has unveiled the latest image of the Aegis system equipped vessel (ASEV) with some explanations.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) plans to procure two ASEVs, which are alternatives to Japan’s now-defunct land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. The first ASEV is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of March 2028, and the second by the end of March 2029.
The newest image released in the 2024 defense white paper, published on July 12, 2024, shows the continuing progress in detailed design of the ASEV.
For one thing, apparently, the design of the bridge structure follows the Maya-class Aegis destroyer, but the window shape on the bridge is horizontal like the Mogami-class frigate, also known as FFM, which is designed to improve visibility while also accommodating a smaller number of bridge staff due to manpower reduction.
The configuration of the main armament used by the ASEV also appears similar to that of the Maya-class, including a Mk-45 (Mod.4) 5-inch/62-caliber (127mm) main gun.
It remains to be seen whether the ASEV will be installed with equipment similar to the OAX-3 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor system, installed on the FFM, to improve all-round surveillance and vigilance.
A Japanese naval expert familiar with the design of world warships told Naval News on the condition of anonymity that it appears that aerials and other equipment are concentrated on the protrusion around the outer periphery of the first funnel.
“I wondered if there would be any issues with heat caused by the main engine’s exhaust smoke or the effects of radio interference in that area,” the expert pointed out, adding “This is the first time I’ve seen this type of outfitting, so it’s interesting.”
The expert also focused on about the structures of the first and second funnels.
“On a conventional ship, SSMs would be installed there. The reason some structure is placed in the area that will become the deck working passage may be to allow for extra space in the future to accommodate additional long-range missiles, etc.,” the expert said.
A former JMSDF officer also told Naval News on condition of anonymity that the ASEV is still in the design stage, and expects details will continue to be changed depending on the design.
“In the future, like the Mogami-class frigate, the hull will be equipped with more hatches on the sides to hide equipment and improve its stealth capabilities,” the former officer said.
ASEV weapon and sensor systems
The two ASEVs are set to be fitted with the Lockheed Martin SPY-7, originally procured for Aegis Ashore, and the version of the Aegis system is the J7.B, which has been modified to integrate the SPY-7 into Baseline 9 (BL9).
On April 4, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced it had successfully demonstrated the first live track AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar, or the SPY-7, for the ASEV.
The MoD said in the latest white paper that the SPY-7 has five times the tracking capability of the SPY-1 and can deal with missiles launched on lofted trajectories and multiple ballistic missiles fired simultaneously.
The ASEV vessels will feature an impressive 128 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. This is more than the Maya-class destroyer’s 96 cells of Mk41 VLS (64 cells forward and 32 cells aft).
The MoD explains that the ASEV’s VLS will be given expandability to accommodate future equipment to deal with Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) during the gliding phase.
ASEV
An early rendering of ASEV. Translation: The Aegis system equipped vessel (image). The image shows an ASEV intercepting various targets: A sea skimming cruise missile, two hypersonic glide vehicles (or ballistic missiles’ reentry vehicles) and a swarm of UAVs. (Image credit: Japanese Ministry of Defense)
Other weapon systems of the ASEV include:
SM-6 also known as RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM)
SM-3 Block IIIA Surface to Air Missiles
Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) that enables the vessels to remotely fire anti-aircraft targets tracked by other ships and so on.
Equipment planned for installation after 2023 (expandability/future growth):
The upgraded Type 12 SSM to deal with enemy fleets from outside their threat range in surface warfare
Tomahawk missiles to deal with ground forces from outside the enemy’s threat range in island defense
High-power lasers, etc. to dealing with drone saturation attacks
The MoD has begun construction of two ASEV from this fiscal year 2024. It has allocated 373.1 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in this fiscal year’s budget for acquisition costs, including construction costs. In addition, it has secured 81.5 billion yen($504 million) for related expenses such as various test preparations and operational support facilities such as test sites. So in total, a whopping 454.6 billion yen ($2.81 billion) has been allocated for the expenses of the ASEVs in the fiscal year 2024 alone.
According to the MoD, the size of the ASEV is 190 meters in length, 25 meters in width, and a standard displacement of 12,000 tons. In comparison, the JMSDF’s latest Aegis ship, the Maya-class, is 170 meters in length, 21 meters in width, and has a standard displacement of 8,200 tons. The ASEV is also 1.7 times larger than the U.S. Navy’s latest Aegis ship, the Arleigh Burke Flight III, in tons.
The MoD stresses the ASEV will have capabilities equal to or greater than those of the most advanced Aegis ships.
It's really hard to believe we could be this bad at designing and building ships. The evidence speaks for itself though.
We aren’t. The system is bad & loves killing the baby in the crib.
I just compared the current surface fleets of Japan and Britain.
Japan is rocking almost 3x the number of destroyers and frigates. Yes, the UK has 2 fleet carriers compared to the smaller Japanese escort carriers. And SSNs over Japanese diesel electric subs. But my, the Royal Navy has declined.
depleteUranium: Running a multi-cultural welfare state is very expensive and the money has to come from somewhere.
What the (expletive) is the poorly designed process that causes these issues?
ADM Richardson was plucked from Naval Reactors/NAVSEA 08 to ensure the COLUMBIA class got through the process. That gives me a feeling about how broken the process is, that the organization nominally responsible, has to be specially supervised. How did we used to design and build warships successfully? Can we implement that again?
John Richard’s was made CNO earlier than expected in order to prevent that position from going to Michelle Howard. She was so awful she made Lisa Franchetti look like John Paul Jones. Another example of how DEI can wreck an organization
What does an ASEV get for an extra 4,200 tons more than a Tico? Armament appears to be roughly equivalent.
Having a guess, electrical supply, and better weight distribution. The Ticos have an issue from aluminum superstructures and topweight.
The displacement is also room for growth.
Larger, higher, more powerful radar and the electricity and cooling to support it.
Some of the best cars on America's roads are built in Japan. As alluded to elsewhere: Pay them to build our new cruisers. The ATS-1 class were built in the UK successfully so there's precedent. Yeah, I know, politics.
Politics? Surely not.
Read or listen to Pres T quotes going back 40 years. Never gonna happen. Strong bond to American labor
Yeah. Like I said. Still, if only we could see "Our" way clear to do it. I have many fond memories of SRF Sasebo, with great work done at reasonable prices by a motivated and dedicated work force.
Ok . . . I like the Spruance hull but it has problems when encumbered by more displacement on it. The TICOs made displacement go from 6,900 tons (DD-963) to 9,600 tons (CG-47). The naval architects that did that were so uniformed, qualified(?), and ready for the modification . . . that I was one of the few who came back to the shipyard from leave . . . and actually say the waterline many feet underwater at the Warf in Pascagoula because we were no longer in the Drydock. Qualified Naval Architects? Back to the Drydock we went to get a new paint job, but that had to waite for an underway period (Sea Trial) in our aggressive timeline.
One would think that we have better people in NAVSEA today . . . than we did back then . . . BUT . . . NOPE!!!
As stated in the article . . . LCS, DDG-1000, and now FFG-62 speak volumes. The LPD-17 initial delivery before all the problems were fixed . . . same comment! Until the May issue of the new (or finally developed) Detailed Design for the Frigate comes out . . . we shall see! If not . . . CLEAN HOUSE . . . these folks are just occupying space and taking tax dollars as fast as they can. They protect themselves by using their power and influence to remove anyone qualified to comment form the equation.
Concerning guns . . . two 5" Mk45 gun mounts provides 1,200 rounds of weapons coming out the barrel with Dual Engagement capability possible. That will represent guided rounds with significant capability increases soon. So 1,200 is a much larger number over 128 VLS cells with $multi-million missiles coming out. Once again . . . the MISSILE LOBY!
This guided projectile gun argument was being made back in the 1980s when we were on Unit #1 (USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)), and the Dahlgren Gun Shop was on board and working on it. Industry drug the Politicians by the nose, closed the gun shop guided projectile program (or just DEFUNDED IT), and the rest is HiStory. The MISSILE LOBBY (name came from THOSE DAYS) reigns. Sad state of affairs. Today we have 30-50mm rounds with more capability than 5" rounds.
Ok…It looks like the Japanese are using American sensors and weapons. Can we do a swap? Trade radars for hulls? And a license to build more here?