Tokyo -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. today held a ceremony marking the launch of the submarine RAIGEI at its No.1 Building Berth in Kobe Shipyard which is built for the Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD). The ceremony was attended by a delegation of top MOD officials.
The submarine is the fourth Taigei class submarine, and the 31st built at Kawasaki Kobe shipyard after World War II.
It provides superior submerged operation and propulsion performance, and has high water pressure resistance by using high strength steel for its pressure hull. Additionally, it has new type of engines. It also has lithium-ion battery systems for increased underwater endurance, a variety of automated systems, improved surveillance capabilities using high-performance sonar, increased stealth capabilities, enhanced safety measures and several facilities for female crew members.
The submarine's construction timetable and specifications are as follows: Construction Timetable Construction begun March 26, 2021 Launched October 17, 2023 Estimated completion March, 2025 Specifications Length 84.0m Beam 9.1m Depth 10.4m Displacement 3,000 tons Engines Kawasaki 12V 25/31-type diesel engines (2)
Electric propulsion motor (1) Armament Underwater launch tubes Other Submarine snorkel
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. specializes in manufacturing and marketing of transportation and industrial machines equipments. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- sale of motorcycles and engines (29.8%);
- sale of aerospace equipments (19.9%): aircrafts, helicopters, missiles, electronic equipments, monorails, etc.;
- sale of gas turbines (19.8%): turbines for naval, marines and industrial applications, generators, propulsion systems, etc. The group also develops naval construction activity (construction of ships, submarines, bulk carriers, oil tankers, etc.);
- sale of precision machines (16.8%): primarily hydraulic machines. The group is also developing a manufacturing of industrial machinery activity (tunnel boring machines, curling machines, grinding machines, etc.);
- sale of railway equipments (8.4%): train cars, electric and diesel locomotives, monorails, etc.;
- other (5.3%).