Kawasaki launches final Soryu-class submarine

The future JS Toryu, the 12th Soryu-class submarine built for the JMSDF, at its launching on November 6, 2019 (Photo: Kawasaki)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries held a ceremony marking the launch of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) future diesel-electric attack submarine JS Toryu (“Fighting Dragon”) on Wednesday, November 6.

The 84- by nine-metre submarine is the 12th and final ship in the Soryu-class.

Toryu and sister submarine JS Oryu are the only two ships in the Soryu-class that will utilise lithium-ion battery propulsion whereas the first 10 ships in the class will be equipped with traditional lead-acid battery systems with considerably lower electric storage capacity.

Toryu is expected to be completed by March 2021.


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