Japan's "Aegis-equipped Ship" Construction Advances, Experts Indicate Desire to Break Through Peace Constitution

On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the surrender document aboard the USS Missouri. Today, since the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has been accelerating its military expansion and pushing forward its "remilitarization."

It is reported that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's new "Aegis-equipped ship" has completed the installation of its integrated mast. Experts indicate that Japan, under the guise of "missile defense," is pursuing aggressive military expansion, increasingly unmasking its ambition to break free from the constraints of its pacifist constitution.

It is reported that the construction of the first ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's new "Aegis-equipped ship" is progressing, with the recent installation of a large integrated mast that will integrate multiple radar components of the Aegis system in the future. According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense's plan, this "Aegis-equipped ship" is expected to be launched in the fiscal year 2026 and enter service in 2027.

In 2020, due to protests from local residents, the Japanese government abandoned the "land-based Aegis system" and subsequently opted for large sea-based launch platforms as an alternative, ordering two "Aegis-equipped ships" and relocating the originally planned land-based missile defense systems from Yamaguchi and Akita prefectures onto these 10,000-ton vessels.

Japan now has several "Aegis" destroyers; however, the "Aegis-equipped ship" will carry the former land-based "Aegis" system, equipped with a radar system that has stronger detection and tracking capabilities, and with a displacement exceeding 12,000 tons, far surpassing the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's currently largest destroyer, thus allowing it to carry more missiles.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: Under the influence of a new militaristic mindset, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is reviving the combined fleet from World War II. Among the newly constructed combined fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the largest operational platform is the "Aegis-equipped ship," which is a large destroyer with a displacement exceeding 12,000 tons. It has a longer detection range for aerial targets, especially incoming ballistic missiles and fighter jets, and possesses stronger multi-target processing capabilities. Due to its larger displacement compared to typical "Aegis" destroyers, it can also carry more air defense and missile interception projectiles, as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles, providing cover for Japan's light aircraft carrier group and supporting offensive operations. Additionally, it can deploy more Tomahawk cruise missiles in conjunction with F-35B stealth carrier-based aircraft launched from light aircraft carriers for joint long-range fire strikes.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: Japan has now added a large maritime operational platform to its light aircraft carrier group. The current Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is targeting the needs for overseas deployment and overseas military intervention in terms of weaponry development, large warship research, and manufacturing.

Military Observer Wei Dongxu: The current Japanese maritime operational system is becoming increasingly dangerous, posing a significant impact on regional peace and stability, and bringing more strategic security risks.