History:

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers.

Modern destroyers, also known as guided missile destroyers, are equivalent in tonnage but vastly superior in firepower to cruisers of the World War II era, capable of carrying nuclear missiles. Guided missile destroyers such as the Arleigh Burke-class class are actually larger and more heavily armed than most previous ships classified as guided missile cruisers, due to their massive size at 510 feet (160 m) long, displacement (9200 tons) and armament of over 90 missiles.

The Kongo class employs the highly advanced Aegis fire control system and is armed with the RIM-66 SM-2MR Block II surface-to-air missile, RUM-139 vertically launched anti-submarine rocket, the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, two Mark 15 20 mm CIWS gun mounts, two torpedo mounts in a triple tube configuration, and an Oto Melara 127 mm/54 caliber gun. Its Mark 41 vertical launch system can hold 90 missiles. However, in keeping with the defensive mission of the JMSDF and passive role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in general, the Kongo-class lacks the Tomahawk missile.
 
As on other ships employing the Aegis system, the superstructure is dominated by the SPY-1's phased arrays, which eliminates the need for a traditional rotating antenna. The design of the superstructure also incorporates certain stealth features, designed to reduce radar cross section of the ship; however, as a consequence, the ship is considerably more top-heavy than a typical destroyer and requires a much deeper draft. As such, operations in a littoral (coastal) environment are limited. Overall, Kong-class destroyers are much larger than traditional destroyers and at 9,485 tons displacement come close to cruisers in size. Because they are built to different operational requirements than the Arleigh Burke-class ships, such as for carrying extra equipment for commanding a squadron, the Kong-class ships' internal arrangement is quite different from the original design on which they are based. Recognisable external features are the vertical mast and the sleek sides of the bridge.
 
The Kongo class vessels are being modified to serve in a theater missile defense role, with the primary intention of countering North Korean ballistic missiles. This purpose and a financial crisis made the Flight II variant of the Arleigh Burke class the choice for the follow-on class to the Tachikaze and Asakaze. The new destroyer was named Atago in 2005.
 
Kongo class destroyers are powered by four Ishikawajima-Harima LM2500 gas turbines.
 
In December 2007, Japan conducted a successful test of the SM-3 block IA against a ballistic missile aboard JDS Kongo (DDG-173). This was the first time a Japanese ship was selected to launch the interceptor missile during a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. In previous tests they provided tracking and communications. Afterward, Japan has also undertaken another two successful Ballistic Missile Defense test aboard JDS Myoko in October 2009 and aboard JDS Kirishima in October 2010. While one test aboard JDS Chokai in November 2008 was failed to intercept the target.

Type:                Kongo class guided missile destroyer
 
Displacement: 7,500 tons standard, 9,500 tons full load
 
Length:            528.2 ft (161 m)

Beam:              68.9 ft (21 m)
 
Draft:               20.3 ft (6.2 m)
 
Propulsion:    4 Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 shaft horsepower (75 MW)
 
Speed:           30 knots (56 km/h)

Range:           4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots, (8,334 km at 37 km/h)
 
Complement:300

Armament:
 RGM-84 Harpoon SSM
 SM-2MR Standard SAM (29 cells at the bow, 61 cell at the aft)
 SM-3 Block IA ABM
 RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC
 1 x 5 inch (127 mm) / 54 caliber Oto-Breda Compact Gun
 2 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
 2 x Type 68 triple torpedo tubes (6 x Mk-46 or Type 73 torpedoes)
 
Aircraft carried:
Room for a helicopter to land on the rear deck, but no support equipment installed