According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the first two ships are expected to launch in November 2025, followed by two more in March 2026
Japan has commenced construction of a new class of patrol vessels for its Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), as part of a broader effort to reinforce maritime security amid growing naval activity by China and Russia near its maritime borders.
The fleet of twelve next-generation ships is designed to bolster surveillance and operational flexibility across Japan’s extensive maritime domain. The first four vessels are under construction at the Japan Marine United shipyard in Yokohama, with keels laid in February 2025. The initiative is funded under the fiscal year 2023 budget, at a cost of ¥35.7 billion (approximately ¥9 billion per ship).
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the first two ships are expected to launch in November 2025, followed by two more in March 2026. All four are scheduled for delivery by March 2027.
Each ship will measure 95 metres in length, 12 metres in width, and displace around 1,920 tonnes. The vessels are equipped with stealth features, including reduced radar visibility, and are built with a high degree of automation—enabling operations with just 30 crew members. This move comes as the Self-Defense Forces grapple with recruitment shortages.
The vessels are intended primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Their modular design allows for rapid configuration based on mission needs. Each ship will include a multifunction hangar, modular deck space for mission payloads, and a stern system for launching and recovering various craft.
Although lightly armed—with only a remotely operated 30mm cannon—the ships are built with the potential to integrate containerised missile systems, such as those modelled after the U.S. Mk. 70 Payload Delivery System. This could eventually enable them to deploy anti-ship, anti-air, or anti-submarine missiles from a single 40-foot module.
The vessels will also serve as platforms for drone operations, beginning with the V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a vertical take-off and landing system developed by Shield AI. With a footprint of four square metres and an endurance of up to 10 hours, the V-BAT is suited for confined maritime environments. The ships’ configuration suggests they could also support unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, further enhancing their ISR capabilities.
Japan, which administers one of the world’s six largest exclusive economic zones, has cited the need for persistent maritime monitoring—particularly around the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and waters off Hokkaido. The Defence Buildup Program, published in 2022, outlines these new vessels as key to expanding operational coverage and enabling international security cooperation.
While the new ships are intended to support Japan’s wider maritime security posture, they are unlikely to be deployed in direct flashpoints such as the Senkaku Islands—a group of uninhabited islets administered by Japan but claimed by China. Tokyo has consistently avoided deploying JMSDF assets in the area to prevent escalation or providing justification for Chinese naval deployments.
Instead, the patrol vessels are expected to operate in less contentious areas along Japan’s southwestern island chain, offering a flexible and forward-looking approach to maritime defence.
