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Description
The JMSDF built JDS Amatsukaze (DDG-163) under FY1960 program and started shipboard operation of surface-to-air missiles. She had been equipped with analog-version of the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System. A fully-digitized system was adopted on the next-generation Tachikaze class, and later a combat direction system based on the Naval Tactical Data System was added.

Nevertheless, the JMSDF estimated that its fleets would not survive against Soviet airstrikes, especially Tupolev Tu-22M bombers and AS-4 air-to-surface missiles. Based on these estimates, JMSDF began to pursue the introduction of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) from the early 1980s. In 1984, with the prospect of deploying AWS, concrete implementation plans began. And the construction of Japanese first Aegis-equipped ships, Kongo class, had begun under FY1988 program. The original Kongo was fitted with Helipad which was lacked with Aviation Hangar, by 2004, an aft Hangar was added prior to refitting.

The class's maximum speed 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) with a maximum range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

The four ships of the class are named Kongō (こんごう, DDG-173), Kirishima (きりしま, DDG-174), Myōkō (みょうこう, DDG-175) and Chōkai (ちょうかい) respectively, after mountains in Japan, and all four also share their names with World War II era Japanese warships. Kongō and Kirishima share their names with two ships of the Kongō-class battlecruiser, while the other two ships share their names with the heavy cruisers Myōkō and Chōkai.

Description
The JMSDF built JDS Amatsukaze (DDG-163) under FY1960 program and started shipboard operation of surface-to-air missiles. She had been equipped with analog-version of the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System. A fully-digitized system was adopted on the next-generation Tachikaze class, and later a combat direction system based on the Naval Tactical Data System was added.

Nevertheless, the JMSDF estimated that its fleets would not survive against Soviet airstrikes, especially Tupolev Tu-22M bombers and AS-4 air-to-surface missiles. Based on these estimates, JMSDF began to pursue the introduction of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) from the early 1980s. In 1984, with the prospect of deploying AWS, concrete implementation plans began. And the construction of Japanese first Aegis-equipped ships, Kongo class, had begun under FY1988 program. The original Kongo was fitted with Helipad which was lacked with Aviation Hangar, by 2004, an aft Hangar was added prior to refitting.

The class's maximum speed 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) with a maximum range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

The four ships of the class are named Kongō (こんごう, DDG-173), Kirishima (きりしま, DDG-174), Myōkō (みょうこう, DDG-175) and Chōkai (ちょうかい) respectively, after mountains in Japan, and all four also share their names with World War II era Japanese warships. Kongō and Kirishima share their names with two ships of the Kongō-class battlecruiser, while the other two ships share their names with the heavy cruisers Myōkō and Chōkai.