JS Asahi (DD-119) is the lead ship of the Asahi-class destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Her namesake came from âÂÂMorning sunâÂÂ.
The procurement of the destroyer began in 2013 in response to the reduction in the number of destroyers (namely the ) within the JMSDF. The two major characteristics of this destroyer is its bigger emphasis on anti-submarine warfare and the adoption of the COGLAG (combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine) propulsion system. A second destroyer was procured a year later.
She was laid down on 4 August 2015 and launched on 19 October 2016. Commissioned on 7 March 2018 with the hull number DD-119.
On 21 May 2022, the Asahi, the JS Makinami (DD-112), and the replenishment oiler, JS Hamana (AOE-424) sighted the PLAN Liaoning carrier strike group going towards Miyako-jima.
On 1 March 2025, Asahi arrived at the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a replenishment visit under the command of Commander Shota Takashiro. The vessel departed the island on 3 March 2025 upon completing its mission.
The ship participated in the Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25) with of the Indian Navy between 16 and 18 October 2025. Other Japanese ships, including ' and ', also participated in the exercise. Sahyadri was on an operational deployment to the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific and conducted a port call at the Yokosuka Naval Base.