The new submarines is operated using lithium-ion batteries.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has launched the first of a new class of diesel-electric submarines, which will complete the U.S. ally’s planned expansion of its submarine fleet to 22 boats when it enters service.
Taigei is the name , meaning Big Whale, was launched at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in the city of Kobe on Wednesday. It is the first of a successor class to Japan’s current Soryu-class boats.
The Taigei is a 3,000-ton diesel-electric attack submarine measuring 84 meters (275 feet, 7 inches) long. The design was previously known as the 29SS class, named after the 29th year of Emperor Akihito’s reign in Japan, which corresponds to the year 2017 in the Gregorian calendar.
Like the last two boats of the Soryu class, the Taigei will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries as a power source. Japan has conducted extensive research into the use of lithium-ion batteries onboard submarines since the early 2000s, and says they require less maintenance and are capable of longer endurance at high speeds while submerged, compared to lead-acid batteries.
