JS Akizuki (DD-115) is the lead ship of Akizuki-class destroyers. She was commissioned on 14 March 2012.



The Akizuki-class destroyer is a destroyer class of the JMSDF - four ships were built. The Akizuki Class is intended to escort the Hyuga class and Izumo class helicopter destroyers, and safeguard the other Aegis guided warships such as the Kongō class and Atago-class of the JMSDF. The destroyer provides defense against surface, airborne and undersea threats.



The hull structure was based on the one of the Takanami class destroyer. There are many small improvements, such as cleaner lines to reduce the radar signature and decoys for torpedoes; but the principal changes can be summed up as more powerful engines, sensors, sonar and the indigenous ATECS battle management system that has been called the "Japanese AEGIS". The main gas turbine engines are standardized on a higher-powered version of the Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C, in contrast to the combination of Rolls-Royce SM1C and General Electric LM2500 turbines used in the Takanami class.