Sakura class Offshore Patrol Vessel OPV JMSDF Navy Japan

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force / JMSDF
Sakura class Offshore Patrol Vessel - OPV

sakura class offshore patrol vessel opv japan maritime self defense force jmsdf marine unitet mhi 04x

12/25

Ships:

OPV-901 JS Sakura (2027)
OPV-902 JS Tachibana (2027)
OPV-903 JS ? (2027)
FFM-4 JS ? (2027)

12 units planned

Specifications:

Builders:
Japan Marine United (main contractor) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)

Displacement: 1,950 tons (standard)
Length: 95 meters (311 feet 8 inches)
Beam: 12 meters (39 ft 4 in)
Draft: 4.2 meters (13 ft 9 in)
Speed: 20+ knots (37+ km/h)
Range: ?
Complement: 30

Propulsion:
CODLAD (combined diesel-electric and diesel)
1 x diesel engine / 1 x electric motor
1 shaft / 1 propeller / 1 bow-thruster

Aviation:
flight deck and hangar for 1 helicopter (Mitsubishi SH-60K / SH-60L) or UAV

Armament:

1 x 30 mm Remote Weapon Station (RWS)

Systems:
UNIted COmbined Radio aNtenna (UNICORN) NORA-50 integration mast and Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN)

The Sakura-class patrol ships consist of 12 OPV-type patrol vessels planned to be operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Admist the rising tensions over the Senkaku Islands and to replace older vessels such as the Hayabusa class patrol boats, in 2022, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force launched the Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) program.

Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) is the prime contractor for this program with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) chosen to be the subcontractor. Both JMU and MHI as well as Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding had submitted preliminary designs for the proposed next-generation OPVs.

The Sakura-class will replace the Abukuma class destroyer escorts and Hayabusa class patrol boats currently deployed in patrol missions and as escorts for warships belonging to other navies in the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and Pacific Ocean. The OPV will be equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, since its armament is limited and will be primarily used in patrol sorties.

Four ships were initially scheduled to be introduced by fiscal year 2024, followed by 12 within the next five years.

Names:
Sakura = cherry blossom
Tachibana = tachibana orange

images

opv-901 js sakura offshore patrol vessel opv japan maritime self defense force jmsdf launch 2025 02

OPV-901 JS Sakura

opv-901 js sakura offshore patrol vessel opv japan maritime self defense force jmsdf 03

OPV-901 JS Sakura

opv-902 js tachibana offshore patrol vessel opv japan maritime self defense force jmsdf 02

OPV-902 JS Tachibana

opv-902 js tachibana offshore patrol vessel opv japan maritime self defense force jmsdf launching 2025 03

OPV-902 JS Tachibana

| seaforces.org | Japan Maritime Self Defense Force start page |