Rapid frigate construction supports a target of 50 surface combatants while allowing the retirement of obsolete ships with large crews. The stated target is additional to four carrier-like helicopter-carrying destroyers and two new Aegis System Equipped Vessels. The underwater force has reached 22 frontline boats, with two more assigned to training and one to trials. Its rolling replacement plan orders one submarine, delivers one and retires one after training service each year. The 2025 budget authorizes the ninth Taigei-class boat for 114 billion yen, approximately US$780 million in the figures read here. The fourth boat's March 2025 delivery and an older training submarine's withdrawal illustrate that replacement cycle. The budget's other new-ship approvals are three landing and transport vessels for the Joint Defense Force Maritime Transport Group, established on 24 March 2025.
Notable Point · 8:22-9:40
Japan pairs a 50-combatant goal with rolling submarine production
Japan combines a 50-combatant target with a steady submarine replacement cycle and new joint maritime transport ships.