Atago-Class AEGIS Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG)

The ***Atago* class** Guided Missile destroyers (あたご型護衛艦, *Atago-gata Goeikan*) are improved version of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF)'s *Kongō*class.

## Overview

In 2000, the Japan Defense Agency Maritime Staff Office included another two Aegis ships in its five-year budget on top of the four *Kongō*-class destroyers originally ordered.

The *Atago* class is fundamentally an improved and scaled-up version of the *Kongō*-class destroyers. The class features large accommodation and the ships are capable of flexible operation. One of the most obvious changes is an additional hangar to carry one SH-60K helicopter. In comparison to the *Kongō* class/*Arleigh Burke* class (Flight I) which only had helicopter platforms (but no support equipment), these ships have better helicopter handling facilities. To enhance the *Atago* class' function as command centers, the bridge is two decks higher than aboard a *Arleigh Burke* class Flight IIA, making their full load displacement over 10,000 tons—the first time for a JMSDF surface combat vessel. The gun caliber has extended from the 54 caliber of the *Kongō* class to the 62 caliber with strengthened powder charge enabling a 38 km firing range. As with other Japanese ships being refit, the American-made Harpoon missiles (such as in the initial configuration of the *Kongō* class) have been replaced with the Japanese-made Type 90 (SSM-1B) surface-to-surface guided missiles.

Japan has also purchased a manufacturing license for these weapons for use on their *Kongō*-class Aegis destroyers. Japan Steel Works also manufactured, assembled, and tested the weapons.

Like the Kongō-Class Destroyer, they are now upgraded to carry and launch Tomahawk missiles

## Specification

* **Type:** Guided-Missile Destroyer
* **Displacement:**
	+ 7,700 tons standard
	+ 10,000 tons full load

* **Length:** 165 m (541 ft 4 in)
* **Beam:** 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
* **Draft:** 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
* **Propulsion:** 4 x Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, two shafts 5-bladed CP props, 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)
* **Speed:** 30 knots (56 kph)
* **Boats & landing craft carried:** 1 Rigid hull inflatable boat
* **Complement:** 300
* **Sensors and processing systems:**
	+ AN/SPY-1D(V) passive electronically scanned array radar
	+ OPS-28E surface search radar
	+ AN/SQS-53C sonar
	+ 3 × AN/SPG-62 FCS
	+ AN/SQQ-89
	+ Mk 46 Optronic director
	+ Mk 160 FCS
	+ Mk 116 FCS

* **Electronic warfare & decoys:**
	+ ESM/ECM：NOLQ-2
	+ 4 × Mark 36 SRBOC

* **Armament:**
	+ 1 × 5 inch (127mm/L62) Mk-45 Mod 4 naval gun in a stealth-shaped mount. (Made by Japan Steel Works licensed from its original manufacturer)
	+ 2 × missile canister up to 8 Type 90 (SSM-1B)
	+ 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
	+ 2 × Type 68 triple torpedo tubes (6 × Mk-46 or Type 73 torpedoes)
	+ 96-cell Mk-41 VLS (64 at the bow / 32 cells at the stern aft) for a mix of: SM-2MR Standard Missile, SM-3 Anti-Ballistic Missile, RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC (Anti-Submarine) or BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile (future upgrade)

**Aircraft carried:** 1 × SH-60K helicopter

**Aviation facilities:** Flight deck and enclosed hangar for one helicopter

## Ships of Her Class

* DDG-177 *Atago* - Lead of her Class

* DDG-178 *Ashigara*

## Service History

### Japanese-Parpaldian War

* ***See Battle of Altaras Kingdom for details***
* ***See Great Naval Battle of Esthirant for details***