Kaga-class aircraft carrier
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 FNS Kaga conducting sea trials on the Senkai straits in February 2020 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Kaga–class aircraft carrier |
| Builders: | Hitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Operators: |
 Fuso Navy |
| Preceded by: | Shokaku-class aircraft carrier |
| Cost: | $11.539 billion |
| In service: | 2020–present |
| In commission: | 1 |
| Planned: | 1 |
| Completed: | 1 |
| Active: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Aircraft carrier |
| Tonnage: | 102,000 tonnes |
| Displacement: | About 112,435 short tons; 102,000 tonnes |
| Length: | 1,105 ft (337 m) |
| Beam: |
|
| Height: | 252 feet (77 m) |
| Draft: | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Decks: | 25 |
| Installed power: | Three FA7M nuclear reactors |
| Propulsion: | Four shafts |
| Speed: | In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range: | Unlimited |
| Endurance: | 50-year service life |
| Complement: |
|
| Crew: | 2,750 approx. |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 86 at estimated maximum |
| Aviation facilities: | 1,095 ft × 257 ft (334 m × 78 m) flight deck |
The Kaga-class is a class of one nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the largest ships built for the Fuso Navy since the Intercontinental War, taking over the mantle previously held by the Shokaku-class aircraft carriers. Like it's predecessor, it introduces unique designs and technologies to meet its requirements, but also includes significant features to improve efficiency, reduction of operating costs in the long term, with the inclusion of semi-autonomous systems such as the ATECS Naval Command System capable of allowing carrier operations with smaller crews. The extended space of the aircraft carrier also includes future plans for accommodating new defense weapon systems and additional aircraft. The completion of the Kaga is the final piece of the military's NEP-2025 (Naval Expansion Program 2025) and replaced the FNS Shokaku as the Navy's flagship. The aircraft carrier overall appearance including its decks heavily resembles the Ascerian Geofon-class aircraft carriers.
However the construction for the carrier was controversial due to development and construction costs, staff mismanagement, lack of public disclosure and critics called it "unnecessary". The National Diet attempted to halt and terminate the construction of the Kaga, but upon the ship's completion in February 2019, it was canceled.
Description
Ships in class
| Pennant no. | Ship | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Homeport | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaga class | ||||||||
| ACVN-03 | FNS Shokaku | 15 July 2014 | 23 February 2019 | 1 April 2020 | In service | Yokosa Naval Base, Yokosa City | Replaced the Shokaku as the Navy's Flagship, leading ship of the First Fleet | |