Japan Considers Nuclear-Powered Submarines as China and Russia Increase Pacific Naval Pressure

Japan has formally included nuclear-powered submarines in a review of its future defence posture, but has not decided to acquire them. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on September 11 that the option would not be excluded as Tokyo weighs greater speed, endurance, and range against higher costs, larger hulls, nuclear-support requirements, and acoustic considerations. Japan’s current Taigei-class boats are conventional submarines using lithium-ion batteries, displacing about 3,000 tonnes and exceeding 20 knots submerged. Any nuclear programme would require new infrastructure, training, regulation, and foreign cooperation, with the United States the most likely prospective partner.