October 16, 2021

Second Taigei Japanese Sub, Hakugei, Launched: TABLE.

Please see the Oyashio-Soryu-Taigei TABLE below in recognition of the launch of the second Taigei-class Japanese submarine, Hakugei, on October 14, 2021. 

Also first of class JS Taigei itself was commissioned on March 9, 2022. 

Mike Yeo, for DefenseNews wrote a very useful analysis on October 15, 2021 putting Hakugei's launch in perspective: 

"MELBOURNE, Australia – Japan has launched the second of a new class of diesel-electric submarines exactly one year to the day that the lead boat of the lithium-ion powered series took to the water. 

The new submarine, which has been named the Hakugei, or White Whale, was launched at Kawasaki Heavy Industries shipyard in the city of Kobe on [October 14, 2021] Japan time. The submarine will now undergo final construction and sea trials before commissioning into the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force or JMSDF, which is planned for March 2023. 
 
The Hakugei is the second Taigei-class submarine. This is a 3,000-ton, diesel-electric attack submarine measuring 84 meters (275 feet) long, and was previously known as the 29SS class, named after the 29th year of Emperor Akihito’s reign in Japan. 

The first boat of the class, the Taigei, was launched in October 2020 and began sea trials in July this year. It is expected to be commissioned in March 2022. 

The commissioning will allow the JMSDF to continue efforts to recapitalize its submarine fleet, with the service keeping some older boats in service as it brought the number of submarines in service to 22. 

The decision to increase the JMSDF submarine force from 16 boats was announced in the 2010 national defense program guidelines. It comes as Japan continues to cast a wary eye on China’s military modernization and increasing assertiveness in the region. 

Like the last two boats of the preceding Soryu-class and the Taigei, the Hakugei will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries as a power source. Japan has conducted extensive research into the use of lithium-ion batteries on submarines since the early 2000s, and says they require less maintenance and are capable of longer endurance at high speeds while submerged compared to lead-acid batteries. 
 
It is currently the only known country to have operational submarines using lithium-ion batteries. 

The upsized submarine force will comprise eight older Oyashio-class submarines, twelve Soryus and the two Taigei-class boats. Japan has already laid down one more Taigei-class submarine and has funding approved for two more, the latest being $602.3 million allocated for one more boat in the defense ministry’s latest budget." 

-------------------------

Submarine Matters' Oyashio-Soryu-Taigei TABLE as at May 9, 2022.
 

SS
No.
Diesel Type
Motor
Build No
Name
Pennant
No.
MoF approved amount ¥
Billions FY
LABs, LIBs, AIP
Laid Down
Laun
-ched
Commi
ssioned
Built
By
5SS Oyashio
8105 Oyashio
SS-590/ TS3608
¥52.2B FY1993
2 x 12V25/25S 
diesels for all
Oyashio class
(each diesel
2,000kW)
LABs only
 Jan 1994
Oct 1996
Mar 1998
 KHI
6SS-15SS
Oyashios 
10 subs
SMC-7?
8106
-8115
various
SS-591-600
¥52.2B per sub
FY1994-FY2003
LABs only
 15SS Feb
2004
15SS
Nov
2006
15SS
Mar 2008
 MHI
&
KHI
16SS
Dragon
class  Mk I
8116
SS-501
¥60B FY2004 all Mk.1 LAB+AIP Soryus have 2 x Kawasaki 
4,240kW)
+ 4 AIP
SMC-8 motor
LABs + AIP
Mar 2005
Dec 2007
Mar
2009
MHI
17SS
8117
Unryū
SS-502
¥58.7B FY2005
LABs + AIP
Mar 2006
Oct 2008
Mar
2010
KHI
18SS
8118
Hakuryū
SS-503
¥56.2 FY2006
LABs + AIP
Feb 2007
Oct 2009
Mar
2011
MHI
19SS
8119
Kenryū
SS-504
¥53B FY2007
LABs + AIP
Mar 2008
Nov 2010
Mar
2012
KHI
20SS
8120
Zuiryū
SS-505
¥51B FY2008
LABs + AIP
Mar 2009
Oct 2011
Mar
2013
MHI
21SS LIBs Concept
Research
Project
No 21SS built. It was an 8 year research project on LIBs. 1st LIBs sub launched was 27SS in 2018.
   


22SS
8121
Kokuryū
SS-506
¥52.8B FY2010
LABs + AIP
Jan 2011
Oct 2013
Mar
2015
KHI
23SS
8122
Jinryu
SS-507
¥54.6B FY2011
LABs + AIP
Feb 2012
Oct 2014
7 Mar 2016
MHI
24SS
8123
Sekiryū
SS-508
¥54.7B FY2012
LABs + AIP
KHI
25SS
8124
SS-509
¥53.1B FY2013
LABs + AIP
22 Oct 2013
12 Oct   2016
MHI
26SS
8125
SS-510
¥51.7B FY2014
last SMC-8 motor
LABs + AIP
2014
6 Nov 2017
KHI
27SS a Soryu
"Mk II" as it
has LIBs. 1st
Soryu Mk II 
8126
Oryū
11th
Soryu
SS-511
¥64.4B FY2015 
with 2 12V25/25SB diesels (totaling 4,240kW) 
SMC-8B motor
Soryu Mk IIs may have twice as many batteries as Mk Is, ie 960 LIB-arrays in Mk IIs, other improvements
LIBs only
(SLH type)
Nov
2015
4 Oct
2018
2020
MHI
28SS Soryu
Mk II, 12th &
final Soryu
8127
SS-512
¥63.6B FY2016
"2,950t" surfaced
12V25/25SB diesels
LIBs
Jan 2017
KHI
29SS
1st
3,000 tonne
(surfaced)
8128
Taigei
SS-513
¥76B FY2017 (Heisei 29)
Higher ¥76budget 
may be due to 1st of class many changes & new layout of LIBs. 2 x
12V25/25SB
diesels or variants
(totaling
SLH
LIBs
maybe
960
month?in 
2017

14 Oct
2020
 
9 Mar 2022
MHI

30SS 
2nd Taigei Class 
8129?
Hakugei

SS-514
SLH
LIBs
2018?
March?
2023
KHI
31/01SS 
3rd
Taigei Class

SS-515
SLH
LIBs
maybe
960+
2019?
2022?
2024?
MHI
02SS 
4th
Taigei Class 
8130?
SS-516
¥B? FY2020 (Reiwa 02)
Improved SLH LIBS. New
2 x 12V25/31S
diesels (totaling
Impro
ved SLH
LIBs
2020?
2022?
2024?
KHI?
03SS
8131?
SS-517
¥B? FY2021
LIBs 
2021?
2023?
2025?
KHI?
04SS
8132?
SS-518
¥B? FY2022
LIBs
2022?
2024?
2026?
MHI?
05SS 
8133?
SS-519
¥B? FY2023
LIBs
2023?
2025?
2027?
KHI?
06SS
8134?
SS-520
¥B? FY2024
LIBs 
2024?
2026?
2028?
MHI?
07SS 
8135?
SS-521
¥B? FY2025
LIBs
2025?
2027?
2029?
KHI?
08SS 
8136?
SS-522
¥B? FY2026

LIBs
2026?
2028?2030?
MHI?
Key to Table: Table information provided by Anonymous to Submarine MattersLABs = lead-acid batteries, AIP = air independent propulsion, LIB= Lithium-ion Batteries. 
¥***B
 = Billion Yen. MHI = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, KHI = Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. 
---

9 comments:

  1. Hi Pete,

    I was looking through a transcript of an Investors Conference Q&A conducted by India's Mazagon Docks Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai - the yard that builds the 6 x Scorpene-class SSKs for the Indian Navy (3 commissioned, 3 under various stages of build & trials).

    Apparently, the 6 x new diesel submarines being sought under Project-75I will have to be equipped with Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) in place of Lead-Acid ones as a mandatory requirement, alongside inclusion of an AIP module.

    While the AIP part was known, this is the first time I'm hearing about the LIB requirement.

    The full transcript is available here:

    https://mazagondock.in/images/pdf/investor-update-call-transcript-29062021.pdf

    A snap of the relevant part:

    https://ibb.co/pwCK4Bf

    Note that this was in June this year, and several updates have taken place with regard to the program since this, such as the issuance of a Request For Proposal (RFP) and the German TKMS excusing themselves from the competition for whatever reason, leaving 4 parties in the fray (Naval Group of France, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea, Navantia of Spain and RUBIN Design Bureau of Russia).

    +++

    On the topic of P-75I, Mr. H.I. Sutton has come out with a good article detailing the 4 options available: A diesel-electric Barracuda/SMX 3.0-based customized design, the DSME-3000/KSS-III, S-80 Plus & the Amur-class.

    https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/10/the-4-submarines-competing-for-the-indian-navys-p-75i-program/

    Do note that even though the article emphasizes a VLS module requirement for cruise missiles, I've been unable to verify this as a legitimate requirement from any official source. In fact the variant of DSME-3000 being offered by the South Koreans lacks any VLS module, telling as all we need to know about the requirement, or lack thereof:

    https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/madex-2021/2021/06/madex-2021-dsme-sheds-light-on-submarine-offer-to-india-for-p-75i/

    I must say, I do believe the French offer to be the most lucrative. The model of submarine that Mr. Sutton has depicted in his graphic has its hydroplanes located on the sail (instead of on the bow like on the Australian Shortfin variant) - this is in line with the SMX 3.0 - a diesel/AIP boat that Naval Group showed at DEFEXPO-2020 in India last year:

    https://www.naval-group.com/en/naval-group-exhibits-defexpo-2020-771

    The SMX 3.0 appears to be a sort of "Improved Scorpene" - displacing around 3,000-3,500 tons with FC2G Fuel Cell AIP and incorporating many design elements taken from the Barracuda program, like the X-form tail rudders, new larger flank array sonars & redesigned sail. I believe Mr. Sutton has taken the renewed commitment given by France to support India's "Strategic Autonomy, including its Industrial & Technological base***" (in the immediate aftermath of AUKUS) into account in incorporating a Pump-jet propulsor on the design.

    Considering it's likely to have a significant degree of commonality with the existing Kalvari-class (Scorpene) SSKs that are already being built in India, plus the already built-up supply chain of Naval Group-certified component manufacturers & offset partners present in the country (who supplied for the Scorpene program) would make the French offer likely the quickest to get off the ground, should they win.

    Of course, they'll have to go through the Indian Navy's evaluation of their AIP offer, and proof of concept for a workable & reliable LIB package. And given the timelines, who knows, maybe they'll say the winning bidder will have to incorporate the DRDO's own PAFC-based AIP into the boat. On that front, the French already agreed to implement the Indian AIP into Scorpene during its first refit, so they could be in a good position there too.

    *** https://in.ambafrance.org/Telephone-conversation-with-Mr-Narendra-Modi-Prime-Minister-of-India

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Gessler

    As you indicate H I Sutton has indeed responded to this latest Indian Project-75I selection ploy.

    For my part I comment that India's glacial paced (AIP tech transfer attempt called) Project-75I:

    - has reacted against the Withdrawal (a few months ago) from Shortlist Ultimatum of Germany, France, Spain and Russia

    - that would have left only South Korea.

    - even though Russia, France, Spain and DRDO don't have the Operational At-Sea 2nd Gen AIP that India was insisting on

    India has re-included France, Russia and Spain to provide a veneer of competition and some semblance of "progress" since 75I began in 2008

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_75I-class_submarine#History

    Germany is correct in not trusting India, concerning in India's full AIP tech transfer requirements. The risk being that India would hand over Germany's Fuel Cell AIP secrets to India's main ally Russia.

    Meanwile can India wait another decade for Russia's, France (2nd gen), Spain's and DRDO's AIP to actually be ready?

    All this still leaving South Korea the only viable short-list-ee since 2008?

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember the days when people used to say during MMRCA tender that there is no hope for Rafale, and the most likely winner be MiG-35 or Eurofighter, and from price PoV, it going to be SH.

    But surprisingly, and unexpectedly Rafale won. Arguments were quite similar during those days.

    All military purchases in the whole world are political, no one buys things considering only capabilities. It is the surprising assumption that the ultimatum came from France or Russia( the only 2 countries which MEA listens to, the other 3 don't matter), and not the NSA/PMO office. And seriously if they threatened India like that, India already cancelled the project, cleared 6-8 SSN (instead of 3), which the NSA office and CDS always wanted.

    As for Germany, if they seriously pulled out because of it, then I can say they only shot themselves in the foot, they are only ahead in AIP tech than their competitors, in all other areas including sensors/optronics French is light years ahead. And the case is when French is ready to share that. If Germans seriously assumed this, then they misunderstanding the whole weapons market, might be that's why Eurofighter failed during MMRCA. :P

    ReplyDelete
  4. H I has been a busy boy, his YouTube video of modern Japanese Submarine history is quite enlightening:

    https://youtu.be/bRl7jV8mcSY

    At this moment, I wouldn’t bet against Naval Group offering India a complete Baraccuda SSN design. After all, it’s cheaper than converting it to diesel…

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Shawn C

    1. Yes H I Sutton's Video at https://youtu.be/bRl7jV8mcSY is very interesting. Its about Japanese Postwar Submarines 13 min 31 seconds long and very current, dated October 16, 2021. At 12:14 grouping different classes the subs is a good approach.

    2. Re your separate point "At this moment, [you] wouldn’t bet against Naval Group offering India a complete Baraccuda SSN design." If I were a Russian nuke sub designer or Russ Admiral I would be overjoyed to get my hands on a Barrucuda SSN via India.

    This is considering ongoing and intensive Russian-Indian technology transfer of nuke sub hulls, reactors and all other sub tech since the 1980s.

    It should not be forgotten that France is part of NATO, Russia's enemy. If France sold a Barracuda SSN to India then Russia would have access to all the French Navy's Barracuda's audio and other secret emissions from all positions.

    Cheers

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Arpit Kanodia

    Yes I remember the MMRCA "1.0" well. See this Submatts' article way back in 2011-2012 https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2011/06/different-f-35-stealth-features-to.html

    Your comment is very true that "All military purchases in the whole world are political, no one buys things considering only capabilities."

    And the larger the purchase prices and more sensitive the technology the More Political things are. Therefore AUKUS nuke sub (to be)
    is top rating for price, sensitivity, hence politically.

    I would say Russia will be India's main SSN (Project-75 Alpha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_75_Alpha ) helper.

    India will likely produce an SSN about 5-10 years sooner than the AUKUS sub.

    Regards

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  7. Not only Russia, if SSN gets clearance, then the French too will be the main beneficiary.

    Regarding, your answer to Shawn, I don't know why people thought that India asked or French offered Barracuda to India, I don't know why any country does that. Neither India asked for it, the know-how and know why already exist for designing, developing an SSN in India, WEESE/Tata India even developed CMS for SSBN, which is a far complex thing than a CMS for SSNs. And I don't think India ever asked for reactor tech from France, what India asking for adoption of new tech like IEP, pump-jet propulsor, new precision machines for fabricating hull, and training HR in refining wielding.

    Even I be very very surprised if, in AUKAS, UK sells a direct copy of Astute to Aussie, it be a very different and toned down copy of that.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Pete,

    You know, I didn't realise that.. the Russians must now be crawling all over the Rafales that France recently delivered to India, as well as the P-8 Poseidons India bought from the US. The IAF has flown the SU-30MKI in air combat exercises against USAF F-22 Raptors, so I'm sure Russia got all the sensor dope.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Shawn C [at Oct 19, 2021, 3:40:00 AM]

    Spot on.

    India is a source of cash AND maybe source of Western Mil-Technical intel for Russia.

    And perhaps of Russian Mil-Tech intel (eg. SU-30MKI) for the US.

    ReplyDelete

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