Japan adds new stealth submarine with 6,000 hp and 20-knot speed capability

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force received the fifth Taigei-class submarine, JS Chōgei, on March 10; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries handed it over at its Kobe shipyard.

After commissioning the submarine was assigned to Submarine Division 2 under Submarine Flotilla 2, with Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture as its homeport.

Construction took three years: work began in 2022, the vessel was launched in 2024, and delivered in 2026.

Specifications: about 275 ft long, ~30 ft beam, ~34 ft draft; displacement ~3,307 US tons; crew capacity about 70, including dedicated accommodations for female personnel.

Propulsion is diesel-electric producing roughly 6,000 horsepower, the boat uses lithium-ion batteries and is equipped with a ZQQ-8 sonar suite.