The vessel will be built by Japan Marine United in Yokohama and is expected to enter service in 2028; ships under the ASEV program will be the largest missile units in the history of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Japan Marine United (JMU) has begun construction of the second ship under the ASEV (Aegis System Equipped Vessel) program, a project that will provide Japan with two of the most powerful naval platforms ever planned for its missile defense. According to information reported by journalist Takahashi Kosukeconstruction began on February 5, 2026, at the company’s facilities in Yokohama.
According to the planned schedule, the new vessel is expected to be launched in 2027 and commissioned into the fleet in 2028. Japan’s strategy relies on simultaneous construction at different shipyards to speed up delivery of both units and strengthen the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force more quickly.
The first ship of the class is already under construction by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki. Its timeline runs in parallel with that of the second unit, with entry into service expected between fiscal years 2027 and 2028, as part of Japan’s effort to expand its defense capabilities amid growing ballistic threats in the region.
The future ASEV ships are among Japan’s most ambitious naval projects in recent decades. The vessels were conceived as a maritime alternative to the canceled Aegis Ashore program and will have ballistic missile defense as their main mission. They are also expected to operate with the AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar and the Aegis combat system, key elements of Tokyo’s planned missile defense architecture.
Beyond their strategic mission, the size of the ships also stands out. The ASEV program vessels are described as the largest missile platforms ever designed for the Japanese navy, surpassing the current Aegis destroyers in size. Recent industry sources cite displacement in the range of 12,000 to 14,000 tons, depending on the criteria used in technical disclosures.
With the program moving forward, Japan is reinforcing its commitment to long-range naval defense at a time of growing concern over regional security and the need to maintain continuous vigilance against missile threats.
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Source and images: Takahashi Kosuke – News.jp / Lockheed Martin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
