F-35 Received First Maintenance
March 22, 2017
5kW Laser Demonstration by the US
March 24, 2017First-of-class Minesweeper Entered Service
Japan has commissioned the first of three Awaji-class minesweepers, JS Awaji, on 16 March during a ceremony in Yokohama. Having launched in October 2015, Awaji-class has a standard displacement of 690 tonnes, a length of 67 m and a beam of 11 m. Powered by two 2,200 hp diesel engines, this class of minesweepers feature a composite fibre-reinforced plastic hull to reduce the magnetic signature of the platform.
The second vessel of the class, Hirado, was launched in February 2017 and is expected to be commissioned in 2018.
