
Final JMSDF Aegis Destroyer ‘Haguro’ はぐろ Starts Sea Trials
According to pictures released on social media, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)’s Final Aegis destroyer, JS Haguro, left Yokohama on June 23 to start its initial sea trials.

According to pictures released on social media, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)’s Final Aegis destroyer, JS Haguro, left Yokohama on June 23 to start its initial sea trials.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced this week its intention to halt deployment of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system citing difficulties in ensuring that rocket boosters from the interceptors do not fall in populated areas. The real reason may actually have to do with the radar system, namely SPY-6 and SPY-7. Yoshihiro Inaba has the story.
Following a four-year modernization and overhaul program, the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine)’s air defence frigate “Zr.Ms. De Zeven Provinciën” is sailing again.

Taiwanese shipyard Jong Shyn Shipbuilding launched a new 600 tons patrol vessel for the Coast Guard on 27 April 2020. Based on the ROC Navy catamaran corvette, the new patrol vessel can be fitted with up to 16x anti-ship missiles.

According to a document released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Guided Missile Destroyer JS Maya (DDG-179)「まや」 and her crew will undergo a “capability test”.
Despite the COVID-19 crisis, South Korea’s defense budget remains mostly unaffected. Budget reductions in the “2020-2024 mid-term defense acquisition plan” will be limited to programs deemed as “non essential” and to a limited number of foreign procurement programs.

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) started developing a hypersonic guided missile able to attack both ships or ground targets. The missile, qualified as “game changer” by the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s agency, will use scramjet engine technology for propulsion.

The Dutch Defence Material Organisation (DMO) announced that it has selected Italian company Leonardo to supply new 127mm naval gun systems for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s four De Zeven Provinciën-class LCF frigates.

Yesterday the U.S. Navy announced that it removed the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after he raised the alarm over concern for the sailors on his ship, which is in the midst of COVID-19 outbreak.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned today its first Maya-class AEGIS Destroyer at Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) Isogo shipyard in Yokohama. JS Maya まや (DDG-179) joins the JMSDF’s Escort Flotilla 1, based in Yokosuka.