Photo/Illutration The Sakura and Tachibana behind it are the first of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's new class of offshore patrol vessels unveiled on Nov. 13 in Yokohama's Isogo Ward. (Daisuke Yajima)

Maritime Self-Defense Force efforts to scale down manpower and boost efficiency made a significant step with the official rollout of a new class of offshore patrol vessels at a dual naming and launch ceremony in Yokohama.

The lead ship, christened Sakura, and sister ship Tachibana are compact, lightly armed and engineered to operate with a small crew. Both are scheduled to enter service between January and February 2027.

The MSDF vessels were unveiled on Nov. 13 at major shipbuilder Japan Marine United Corp.’s Yokohama Shipyard Isogo Works.

This new generation of MSDF vessels reflects a strategic shift toward labor-saving operations amid chronic personnel shortages and the growing strain on Japan’s fleet from expanded regional patrols. 

At 95 meters long and with a standard displacement of 1,900 tons, the pair are to serve as the vanguard for a planned 12-ship fleet to be built over the next decade. They are intended to strengthen Japan’s maritime surveillance in response to increased activity in surrounding seas, particularly from China.

Equipped with autonomous navigation functions and a simplified weapons setup, the ships are optimized for highly efficient operations with a crew of just 30. The MSDF is also exploring the possibility of fully unmanned missions in the future.

Offshore patrol vessels are designed specifically for law enforcement, border security and surveillance missions in the waters surrounding Japan. Their introduction was incorporated into the defense buildup program outlined in the three key national security documents approved by the Cabinet at the end of 2022.

With China’s increasingly assertive maritime posture in mind, Japan has so far allocated 35.7 billion yen ($226 million) for its new patrol unit. Construction is under way on four of the 12 ships.

Japan has struggled to meet the rising demand for patrol and monitoring operations in recent years.

The MSDF is being called to deploy not only destroyers but replenishment vessels and minesweepers for routine regional patrols, stretching its resources thin and encroaching on the time needed for essential training and other core missions.

Compounding its challenges are chronic personnel shortages due, in part, to long deployments at sea making the MSDF less appealing to potential recruits. As a result, “labor-saving” and “efficiency” have become central priorities in Japan’s maritime strategy.

Alongside the new patrol vessels, the MSDF has commissioned a new class of multi-mission escort ships that operate with roughly half the crew required for conventional destroyers.

These Mogami-class frigates are commonly referred to as FFMs (frigate, multi-mission), and the designation encapsulates their versatility as compact, stealthy and highly automated warships capable of handling a wide spectrum of missions.

In the spring, Japan also launched the highly unusual Maritime Transport Group, which is a joint Self-Defense Forces unit dedicated to maritime transportation and logistics. 

The unit is a notable departure from tradition as Ground Self-Defense Force personnel make up roughly 90 percent of the crew, replacing MSDF sailors as part of broader structural and equipment reforms.

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