Kaga-class aircraft carrier

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Kaga-class aircraft carrier
AC7 Admiral Andersen.jpg
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.png Fuso Navy
Preceded by: Shokaku-class aircraft carrier
Cost: $12.979 billion
In service: 2020–present
In commission: 1
Planned: 1
Completed: 1
Active: 1
General characteristics
Type: Aircraft carrier
Tonnage: 65,000 tonnes
Displacement: About 71,650 short tons; 65,000 tonnes
Length: 1,105 ft (337 m)
Beam:
  • 256 ft (78 m) (flight deck)
  • 134 ft (41 m) (waterline)
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:
  • 489 officers
  • 3,301 enlisted
Crew: 2,750 approx.
Armament:
  • Anti-aircraft missiles:
  • 2 × RIM-162 ESSM launchers
  • 2 × RIM-116 RAM
  • Guns:
  • 5 × Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried: 84 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 will be replacing 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, developments, staff management and construction for the carrier were controversial due to costs, lack of disclosure that was later revealed by the press, and the long-term operational costs for the navy overall both the government and the public, with one diet official saying that the construction for one was "...unnecessary, and could invoke hostile reactions." The National Diet attempted to halt and terminate the construction of the Kaga, but upon the ship's completion in December 2019, it was canceled.

Description

Ships in class

Pennant no. Ship Commissioned Status Homeport Notes
Kaga class
CVN-03 FNS Shokaku 18 March 2019 In service Yokosa Naval Base, Yokosa City Replaced the Shokaku as the Navy's Flagship, leading ship of the First Fleet

Service history

2020–present