The launching ceremony of Japan's "Thunder Whale" submarine is held on October 17, 2023.

日本“雷鲸”号潜艇2023年10月17日举行下水仪式。

Recently, Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan unveiled design scheme for the next generation of conventional submarines in its "Vision 2030" report. These submarines are being developed to replace the Taigei-class submarines, also known as the "Big Whale", currently in service with Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). Military observer Zhou Weizheng believes that the new submarine will see significant improvements in terms of power system, concealment, and attack capability according to the design scheme.

日本川崎重工集团近期在其“2030年度愿景报告”中，公布下一代常规潜艇设计方案。该型潜艇的开发旨在取代日本自卫队现役的“大鲸”级潜艇，。军事观察员周伟政认为，从设计方案看，新型潜艇在动力系统、隐蔽性和攻击能力方面会有较大提升。

According to Zhou, Japan's new submarine features three major characteristics. First, it boasts enhanced maneuverability due to the incorporation of a high-horsepower diesel engine developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. This engine will further enhance the submarine's maneuvering capabilities underwater.

周伟政分析，新型潜艇有三大特点。一是机动性更强，将配备川崎重工研发的大马力柴油发动机，潜艇在水下的机动性能会进一步提升。

Secondly, it offers higher concealment. In addition to the mature noise reduction technologies used in the Taigei-class submarines, the new submarine will optimize the hull's shape to further reduce underwater navigation noise and enhance submarine concealment.

二是隐蔽性更高。新型潜艇除继续采用“大鲸”级潜艇成熟的降噪等技术外，还将在优化艇体外形设计的基础上，采用艇艏水平舵取代舰桥水平舵等设计，进一步降低水下航行噪声，增强潜艇的隐蔽性。

Thirdly, the enhanced attack capability is a significant breakthrough in the performance of the new submarine. With the installation of the US MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), it is capable of launching various types of missiles and executing diverse combat missions such as anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land strikes. The overall combat performance of Japan's submarines will undergo a substantial change.

三是攻击能力提升。这也是新型潜艇在性能上最大的突破，通过加装美制MK-41垂直发射系统，能够发射多种型号的导弹，执行反舰、反潜、对陆打击等多种类型的作战任务，日本潜艇的综合作战性能将出现质的变化。

In the proposed design, Japan's next-generation submarine is planned to be equipped with a universal VLS capable of firing long-range cruise missiles. Earlier, Japanese media reported that Japan would advance the procurement of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to the year 2025. Zhou Weizheng believes that there might be some connection between the two.

在公布的设计方案中，日本下一代潜艇计划配备可发射远程巡航导弹的通用垂直发射系统。此前有日本媒体报道称，日本将美制“战斧”巡航导弹的采购时间提前到2025年度。周伟政分析，二者似乎存在某种巧合。并且

Besides, Zhou believes that Japan's submarines equipped with the universal VLS will completely shed their defensive camouflage and transform into an offensive underwater force. He stated that the Tomahawk cruise missile provided by the US has a range of nearly 2,000 kilometers. If Japan's next-generation submarine is equipped with the US MK-41 VLS to launch Type 12 anti-ship missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, it will grant the submarines the capability of long-range land strikes underwater. The establishment of this combat capability and the change in usage principles are highly offensive.

此外，周认为，加装了通用垂直发射系统的日本潜艇，将彻底撕下防御伪装，转变为进攻性水下力量。他表示，美国提供的“战斧”巡航导弹的射程将近2000公里，日本下一代潜艇如果加装美国MK-41垂直发射系统，发射12式反舰导弹和“战斧”巡航导弹，将赋予潜艇水下远程对陆打击能力，这种作战能力的构建与使用原则的改变，具有很强的攻击性。

It is understood that Japan's first ship of the Taigei-class conventionally-powered submarine was delivered in March 2022, and the No.4 submarine Raigei, or "Thunder Whale" was launched in October 2023. Less than two years after the Taigei-class submarine came into service, Japan is rushing to roll out its next-generation submarine program. "Japan is accelerating the development of its next-generation submarines to widen the gap with its rivals and enhance its underwater warfare capabilities. Japan's move to accelerate the development of offensive military power deserves high vigilance from neighboring countries," said Zhou Weizheng.

据了解，日本“大鲸”级常规动力潜艇首艇2022年3月交付，4号艇“雷鲸”2023年10月下水。“大鲸”级潜艇服役不到两年，日本就急于推出下一代潜艇计划。“日本急于推出下一代潜艇，其目的是想拉开与对手的差距，加速提升水下作战能力。日本加速发展进攻性军事力量的动向值得周边国家高度警惕。” 周伟政表示。

Editor's note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.