The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s first “Sakura-class patrol vessel,” built at JMU Isogo, has finally begun active sea trials. The lead ship, “Sakura” (OPV-901), will be used to check if the various devices on board are functioning correctly while the ship is rocked from side to side using a roll-damping device. If the various tests proceed smoothly, sea trials are expected to begin around autumn. The two ships, “Sakura” and “Tachibana,” are scheduled to be delivered to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in March 2027.
