MHI/MSDF 29SS SSK project

Grey Havoc

Grey Havoc

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Japan begins development of its next-gen attack submarines, the 29SS

Apparently, Japan has commenced research, design and development for the successor to its Soryu-class attack submarines, which entered service in 2009. Thi
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Japan’s leading submarine builder, has unveiled provisional designs for what is tentatively being designated as the 29SS submarine design, with the first submarine scheduled to be introduced in service in the late-2020s. The R&D phase will take place from 2025 to 2028, and the first ship of this class will probably be launched around 2031.

It is expected that while the 29SS submarine will retain the general hull form of the earlier Soryu-class vessels, the new vessels will incorporate a range of important design changes, including a substantially reduced sail, which is expected to be blended into the hull with the aim of reducing hydrodynamic drag, helping to lower the noise signature of the submarines, while the dive planes will be moved from the sail to the hull.

Additionally, it is expected that the 29SS will include a pumpjet as opposed to the traditional propeller for propulsion, in a similar fashion to what is expected to be introduced on Australia’s future Attack Class submarines.

29SS will likely retain the same armament as the Soryu boats, which consist of six bow-mounted 533-millimetre torpedo tubes. The submarine can carry up to 30 torpedo-launched weapons, a mixture of Type 89 heavyweight torpedo and the Sub Harpoon anti-ship missile. Although there is a general trend towards installing vertical launch silos behind a submarine’s sail, Japan does not have the missiles to fill them.
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Future Submarine Concept by ATLA from 2016. Some of the technologies are already implemented to the 29SS/Taigei class SSKs, others are still under research. There are other new technologies not depicted in the diagram which are implemented to the 29SS. Generally speaking, not much is known about 29SS overall.

29ss tech.png 29ss tech 2.png 29ss follow up tech.png
From above, "discharge sound reduction" is a maglev-based discharge system.
 
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I still think the Japanese should have kept the AIP Stirling engines, simply replacing the existing lead-acid batteries with lithium batteries. Last time I checked the standards, lithium batteries could reliably hold 5x the capacity of lead-acid, whether by weight or by volume. Plus are able to recharge a lot faster. I'd rather have enough AIP to maintain a slow pace with all the standard electrical draws than use battery capacity for that.

Gotta admit, my mind still boggles at how quickly Japan iterates designs. 7 boats planned instead of the 12 of the Soryu-class, but MHI was awarded a contract for the Taigei-class successor at the end of 2023(!). This suggests a planned production/in service date of 2029 to me, since Japan does not like leaving shipyards idle.

Takes Japan 4 years to build these boats, which is actually LONGER than the US making Virginia-classes... All the Flight 2 and newer boats are only taking the US about 2 years from laid down till commissioned.
 
Defense equipment Agency Technical Symposium 2024
1731459599302[1].jpg
High-efficiency power storage and supply system for submarines
Prevention of hull enlargement and improvement of mobility
Batteries are Lithium-rich type
Miniaturization and higher efficiency of power conversion devices
Miniaturization and densification of battery racks

JMSDF likes Alfa-class submarine
 
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Rumor has it that the capacity of the TAIGEI type No.9 ship will be reduced by 10 to 60 (54 plus 6 women-only living quarters)?
It is said that it will have a steering system with voice recognition function, is it true?
The construction cost is 116.1 billion yen.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Takes Japan 4 years to build these boats, which is actually LONGER than the US making Virginia-classes... All the Flight 2 and newer boats are only taking the US about 2 years from laid down till commissioned.
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There are some interesting comparisons of UK and US WWII-era shipbuilding in (IIRC) DKB's Nelson to Vanguard, where it's noted the US was producing ships significantly quicker, but the UK was producing them with significantly less man-hours. This could be a similar situation.
 
Summary of FY2024 Policy Evaluation Report (Preliminary Project Evaluation)
Project Title Research on Underwater Launching Vertical Launching System

Project Summary
In order to further diversify launching platforms and acquire underwater superiority as a means of strengthening standoff defense capabilities, this project aims to develop an underwater launching system that can be mounted on submarines.
To further diversify launching platforms and acquire underwater superiority, we will develop a vertical guided missile that can be mounted on submarines and can launch longer-range guided munitions.
Vertical Launcher System (VLS) that can be mounted on submarines and can launch longer-range guided munitions, as well as a pressure-resistant shell for mounting the VLS.
The project will research the Vertical Launch System (VLS), which can be mounted on submarines and can launch longer-range guided missiles, and a pressure-resistant shell for mounting the VLS.

Total project cost (planned)
Approx. 30 billion yen (total cost of research and prototype production)
Total project cost (planned): approx. 30 billion yen (total cost of research and prototyping)

Implementation period
Research and prototype production will be conducted from FY 2007 to FY 2029. In addition, the project results will be combined with the results of the
In addition, the in-house test will be conducted from FY2027 to FY2029, and the results of the test will be verified.
The results will be verified through in-house testing from FY2027 to FY2029. (The cost of the trials and research will be allocated separately.)

Objectives to be achieved
(a) Establishment of technology for VLS launch function
(b) Establishment of technology for VLS hull control function
(c) Establishment of technologies related to the water pressure resistance performance of the VLS main body and the pressure hull onboard the VLS
Establishment
 

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