Japan launches 3,300-ton Sōgei submarine of Taigei class

Japan's seventh Taigei-class submarine, Sōgei (SS-519), entered the water in Kobe on October 8. The roughly 3,300-ton boat uses lithium-ion batteries instead of a separate AIP system, offering better target detection and lower noise, with delivery to the Ministry of Defense planned for fiscal 2027.

• Length 84 m, beam 9.1 m, displacement about 3,307 tons, crew of roughly 70
• Armament: six 533-mm torpedo tubes for Type 18 torpedoes and Harpoon missiles
• Maximum submerged speed is 20 knots; construction began on April 17, 2024
• Delivery is scheduled for the fiscal year ending in March 2028