(Sankei: March 8, 2016 – p. 5)

 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries delivered a new “Jinryu” submarine to the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) on March 7. A delivery and flag presentation ceremony was held at the Mitsubishi’s Kobe shipyard in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

 The Jinryu is the MSDF’s state-of-the-art and world’s largest conventionally powered submarine. With the new submarine to be deployed to the MSDF Kure Base in Hiroshima Prefecture, the MSDF now has 17 submarines after maintaining a total of 16 since 1994.

 The new submarine will contribute to improving the MSDF’s capabilities in defense and reconnaissance in waters surrounding Japan. “The submarine will enhance deterrence against the Chinese navy’s increasing maritime advancement,” said a MSDF official. The Defense Ministry is planning to increase its submarine fleet to a total of 22 by the end of the fiscal 2021.