By: Mike Yeo
MELBOURNE, Australia – Japan has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, or MHI, to be the lead contractor to build a new class of multipurpose destroyers with construction expected to begin in 2018.
MELBOURNE, Australia – Japan has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, or MHI, to be the lead contractor to build a new class of multipurpose destroyers with construction expected to begin in 2018.
An Aug. 9 release from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, or ATLA, also named Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company as the subcontractor for the project which seeks to build eight ships to enter service with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force by the next decade.
MHI’s design and proposal beat out competition from Mitsui and Japan Marine United Corporation for Phase 2 of ATLA’s evaluation, with MHI coming up tops for performance, balance and capability. However, ATLA had previously said in February that the losing bidders will still carry out major portions of the build to avoid shipyard closures and loss of industrial capacity.
According to the specifications released by ATLA, the new destroyers will be 130 meters long and displace 3,900 tons, and will be designed for a variety of missions including anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures, with the capability to operate helicopters, unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.
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