In recent hours, Japan has reported the presence of People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels near its waters, heading toward the Philippine Sea. According to information released by Japan’s Joint Staff Office, these vessels belong to the Dongdiao-class surveillance ships.
The identified Dongdiao-class ships are the Tianshuxing (795) and Beijixing (791). The first was spotted nearly 100 km from Amami Oshima Island before heading to the Philippine Sea, while the second was observed sailing eastward about 90 km from Amami Oshima before entering the Philippine Sea.
In response to the presence of Chinese Navy vessels, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) deployed several naval and aerial units in both instances, including the frigate JS Mogami (FFM-1), the replenishment ship JS Towada (AOE-422), the training support ship JS Tenryu (ATS-4203), and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
Such reports by Japanese authorities have become increasingly frequent in recent months, not only due to the detection of military vessels but also the presence of carrier strike groups like those of Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17), and joint exercises with the Russian Navy.
However, the presence of Dongdiao-class electronic surveillance vessels is notable, as there are no recent records, at least in the short term, of this type of vessel navigating near Japan.
Dongdiao Class
This class is not only defined as electronic warfare vessels but also as intelligence-gathering ships. Named Type 815 by the Chinese Navy and generically called the Dongdiao Class, they entered service in the mid-1999s and have since undergone modifications as part of the updates required for their specific tasks.
Regarding specific characteristics, they have a length of 130 meters, a beam of 16.4 meters, and a draft of 6.5 meters. Their displacement is 6,000 tons, reaching a maximum speed of 20 knots (equivalent to 37 km/h). They have a capacity for a crew of 250 people and are powered by a diesel engine. In terms of armament, they are equipped with a Type 76 dual naval gun of 37 mm and two Type 61 dual anti-aircraft guns of 25 mm.
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