JS Asahi
# JS Asahi

JS Asahi (DD-119) is the lead ship of the Asahi-class destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Her namesake came from “Morning sun”.

## Development

The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the Hatsuyuki class) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of the COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.

## Construction and career

She was laid down on 4 August 2015 and launched on 19 October 2016. Commissioned on 7 March 2018 with the hull number DD-119.

On 21 May 2022, the Asahi, the JS Makinami (DD-112), and the replenishment oiler, JS Hamana (AOE-424) sighted the PLAN Liaoning carrier strike group going towards Miyako-jima.

## Gallery

* JS Asahi next to JS Ashigara at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 2 January 2017.
* JS Asahi at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard, Nagasaki on 25 November 2017.
* JS Asahi underway 29 August 2019.
