According to a tweet published by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on April 1, 2022, the Akizuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki conducted a goodwill exercise with the Royal Thai Navy in the Gulf of Thailand.
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Akizuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki and Thai corvette HMS Tapi (Picture source: JMSDF)
JS Suzutsuki (DD-117) is the third ship of Akizuki-class destroyers. Commissioned on March 12, 2014, was incorporated into the 8th Escort Corps of the 4th Escort Corps and deployed to Sasebo.
The Akizuki class of destroyers of the JMSDF is intended to escort the Hyūga-class and Izumo-class helicopter destroyers and safeguard the other Aegis-capable warships such as the Kongō class and Atago class. The destroyer provides defense against surface, airborne and undersea threats.
The hull structure was based on one of the Takanami-class destroyers. There are many small improvements, such as cleaner lines to reduce the radar signature and decoys for torpedoes; but the principal changes can be summed up as more powerful engines, sensors, sonar, and the indigenous ATECS battle management system that has been called the Japanese AEGIS.
The main gas turbine engines are standardized on a higher-powered version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C, in contrast to the combination of Rolls-Royce SM1C and General Electric LM2500 turbines used in the Takanami class.
The purpose of this class is to shield the Kongō class from air, surface, and subsurface threats. The main features of the class include enhanced C4ISR and Anti-Aircraft Warfare (AAW) capability, with an OYQ-11 advanced Combat Direction Sub-system (CDS) and FCS-3A AAW weapon sub-system.
