JS Asahi

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese ship Asahi.

JS Asahi (DD-119) is the lead ship of the Asahi-class destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Her namesake came from “Morning sun”.

JS Asahi underway on 4 December 2017.
History
Japan
Name	Asahi (あさひ)
Namesake	Asahi
Owner	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Builder	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki
Laid down	4 August 2015
Launched	19 October 2016
Commissioned	7 March 2018
Identification	Pennant number: DD-119
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Asahi-class destroyer
Displacement	5,100 tonnes standard 6,800 tonnes full load
Length	151 m (495 ft 5 in)
Beam	18.3 m (60 ft 0 in)
Draft	5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Depth	10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	COGLAG, two shafts, two GE LM2500 turbines
Speed	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement	230
Sensors & processing systems	OYQ-13 ACDS FCS-3A AAW system OPY-1 AAW system OQQ-24 ASW system OQR-4 Towed sonar array system NOLQ-3D-2 EW system OPS-48 surface search radar
Armament	1 × Mk. 45 Mod 4 127 mm (5 in)/62 gun 8 × Type 90 Anti-ship missile in quad canisters 2 × 20 mm Phalanx Block1B CIWS 2 × HOS-303 triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes Anti-torpedo System 32-cell Mk. 41 Vertical launching system RIM-162 ESSM SAM RUM-139 VL-ASROC Type 07 VL-ASROC
Aircraft carried	1 × SH-60K helicopter

Development

The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the Hatsuyuki class) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of the COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.^[1][2]

Construction and career

She was laid down on 4 August 2015 and launched on 19 October 2016. Commissioned on 7 March 2018 with the hull number DD-119.^[3]

On 21 May 2022, the Asahi, the JS Makinami (DD-112), and the replenishment oiler, JS Hamana (AOE-424) sighted the PLAN Liaoning carrier strike group going towards Miyako-jima. ^[4]

On 1 March 2025, Asahi arrived at the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a replenishment visit under the command of Commander Shota Takashiro. The vessel departed the island on 3 March 2025 upon completing its mission.^[5]

The ship participated in the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25) with INS Sahyadri of the Indian Navy between 16 and 18 October 2025. Other Japanese ships, including Ōmi and Jinryū, also participated in the exercise. Sahyadri was on an operational deployment to the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific and conducted a port call at the Yokosuka Naval Base.^[6][7]

Gallery

• 
  JS Asahi next to JS Ashigara at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 2 January 2017.
• 
  JS Asahi at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 25 November 2017.
• 
  JS Asahi underway 29 August 2019.