Japan: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Kobe yard has recently commissioned a new submarine for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force.

The vessel is the first of four 84-metre Soryu-class submarines on order. The submarine is an evolved form of the Oyashio-class submarine, which is the current conventionally-powered submarine being used.

At 4,200 tonnes, ‘JS Soryu’ will have a larger displacement than any previous class of submarine used by post-war Japan.