"In order to compete with China for the East China Sea", Japan's latest warships have also begun to make dumplings

The US "Diplomat" website said on the 10th that Japan launched the latest "supreme" class frigate "Mikuma" on the same day, which will be mainly used for surveillance missions in the waters around Japan after commissioning, "especially near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which is disputed with China."

The frigate Mikuma was launched

The Mikuma is the fourth ship of the "Supreme" class frigate, which has complete air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine capabilities, and can also perform mine clearance tasks. The ship has a full load displacement of up to 5500 tons, equipped with powerful armament, including a 127 mm main gun, MK 41 vertical launch system, quad-mounted Type 17 anti-ship missile launcher, triple Type 68 anti-submarine torpedo, etc., and can carry 1 SH-60K helicopter. According to the plan, it will join the Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2023.

It is worth noting that the first ship of the "top" class, the "top", was launched in March this year, and in the blink of an eye, the fourth ship was also launched before the end of the year. In less than a year, Japan has launched 4 "top" class frigates, and this rare construction speed of dumplings also shows Japan's urgent need for the ship.

As the size and capabilities of the Chinese Navy continue to expand, Japan plans to strengthen the defense capabilities of the "Southwest Islands" by stepping up patrol activities. To this end, Japan plans to replace the Maritime Self-Defense Force's active "Abukuma" class, "Hatsuyuki" class, "Asagiri" class and other frigates in service, with a total of 22 ships. Some analysts believe that compared with destroyers with larger tonnage and more advanced weapons, the "top" class frigate belonging to the local team of the Self-Defense Force is mainly used for patrol and defense tasks in the coastal sea, so it is equipped with a relatively powerful main gun and close defense system to enhance its deterrent power when confronting warships of the same level in the coastal sea; the complete electronic surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities allow it to transmit intelligence back to the command center at the first time when monitoring activities at sea at a distance, and improve the rapid response capability of the Self-Defense Force.

It is conceivable that as the "top" class continues to enter service in the next few years, it may frequently appear near the East China Sea.