Japan Launches A New Guided-Missile Destroyer Class

The 8,200-ton, 170-meter--long destroyers are equipped with the Aegis Baseline J7 combat system. (Courtesy of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)

Defense News: Japan launches first ship of new destroyer class

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has launched the first of a new class of guided-missile destroyers with ballistic missile defense capabilities, as the U.S. ally continues to bolster its defenses against the missile threat from North Korea.

Named the Maya, the first of two 27DDG-class destroyers ordered by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force was launched in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera at Japan Marine United’s shipyard at Isogo Ward in Yokohama, south of Japan’s capital Tokyo, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.

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WNU Editor: China is expressing its concerns on this new guided-missile destroyer class .... China cries at launch of new Japanese destroyer (We Are The Mighty/Business Insider).