Murasame class destroyer (1994)

The Murasame-class destroyer is a third-generation general purpose destroyer in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The Murasame was a successor to the Asagiri class, and like its predecessor, it mainly tasked with ASW and ASuW. It shows a number of improvements to design and equipment, such as:

Introduction of stealth technology.

Both superstructure and hull have angled rather than the traditional vertical surfaces. There is however no angled tripod mainmast like the one of the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer because of the heavy weather of the Sea of Japan in winter.

New-generation C4I system.

This class is equipped with the new generation OYQ-9 combat direction system and the OYQ-103 ASW control system. The OYQ-9 CDS is composed of one AN/UYK-43, one AN/UYK-44, and AN/UYQ-21 workstations. The totality of the OYQ-103 and associated sub-systems is the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SQQ-89 ASWCS.

Enhanced electronics.

The advanced OPS-24 active electronically scanned array radar and OPS-28 surface search and target acquisition radar introduced into the fleet with the Asagiri class remains on board, and there are some new system such as the NOLQ-3 integrated electronic warfare system and OQS-5 hull sonar. The NOLQ-3 EW suite is thought to be the Japanese equivalent of the American AN/SLQ-32.

Modified missile systems.

To enhance the low-observability and combat readiness capability, the Mk.41 vertical launching system (for the RUM-139 VL ASROC) and Mk.48 VLS (for the Sea Sparrow) replace the traditional swivel octuple launchers. And the surface-to-surface missile system is alternated by the SSM-1B of Japanese make. Currently, ships of this class have been switching the point defense missile system from the traditional Sea Sparrow to the Evolved Sea Sparrow.

The Murasame class was designed to replace the JMSDF's smaller destroyers that were reaching block obsolescence, ensuring the fleet could maintain its strength while increasing its firepower. It was originally planned that 14 of these would be built, but this was reduced to nine when the Takanami class (a modified variant of the Murasame) was designed and construction begun.

The Murasame-class destroyers' weapon systems include the Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 VL ASROC, the SSM 1B anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm Phalanx CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration and a 76 mm 62cal rapid-fire naval gun.

With the exception of Kirisame, all ships of the class share their names with World War II destroyers.