The launching ceremony for the submarine "Shogei," which will be handed over to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, was held in Kobe City. The submarine was unveiled on the morning of October 8th at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe Shipyard. It was named "Shogei," a coined word meaning "flying whale." It is one of the largest submarines in Japan, measuring approximately 84 meters in length and 9 meters in width, and was built at a cost of approximately 80.5 billion yen. In addition to its high detection capabilities, it is equipped with a diesel engine and lithium-ion batteries, resulting in improved stealth. Furthermore, the submarine includes separate sleeping quarters for female crew members to make it easier for them to work. The "Shogei" is scheduled to be handed over to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force around March 2028.
Source: 国内最大級の潜水艦「しょうげい」の進水式 高い探知能力と静寂性の向上を実現 28年3月頃に海自に引き渡し予定 三菱重工（2026年10月8日）
