Japan unveils super destroyers to counter regional threats
Japan is building two new, heavily armed ASEV-type (AEGIS System Equipped Vessel) destroyers. These ships, which reportedly surpass even the Chinese Type 055 destroyers in armament, are intended to strengthen the air and ballistic missile defense of the archipelago.
A model showing the technical details of the ASEV-type destroyers was presented at the IDEX 2025 fair in Abu Dhabi by Lockheed Martin, the company responsible for the AEGIS system installed on the ships.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force currently operates eight missile destroyers in three different classes: Kongo (4), Atago (2), and Maya (2). All are equipped with the AEGIS combat management system, providing air and ballistic missile defense for the ships and the entire area of operations they are in.
This development counters the advancement of Chinese and North Korean ballistic technologies and presents a challenge for Moscow, whose Pacific Fleet is increasingly lagging behind the potential of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. This is significant in a situation where both Japan and Russia—despite the end of hostilities in 1945—have not concluded an official peace treaty, and territorial disputes over the Kuril Islands remain unresolved.
New ships with aegis bmd
The land-based AEGIS Ashore system was supposed to complement these forces (similar to the one at the American base in Redzikowo, Poland), but resident protests forced authorities to abandon the construction of these installations. To compensate, the decision was made to build new, large, heavily armed destroyers with the AEGIS BMD system, provisionally named ASEV type.
The classification is conventional, like many other Japanese or Chinese ships. The Japanese destroyers will be significantly larger than American cruisers and more heavily armed than Chinese Type 055 destroyers/cruisers, equipped with 112-cell VLS launchers.
Japanese ASEV super destroyers
According to the limited, disclosed specifications, ASEV-type ships will have 623-foot hulls, a displacement of 15,000-18,000 tons, and a 128-cell VLS launcher (two 64-cell modules at the bow and stern).
The launchers will include anti-aircraft missiles such as ESSM, RIM-161 (SM-3), RIM-174 (SM-6), and RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Separate launchers will also be installed for Japanese Type 12 anti-ship missiles with a range of 250 miles (ultimately extending to 620 miles).
The cost of building the two ships is estimated at $5.63 billion, with more than half of this amount allocated to AEGIS system components, such as the AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar and the ship's battle management center, provided by Lockheed Martin. The plan is for both units to enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
