DSEI Japan 2025: Japan's navy tests long-endurance UUV
A model of the unmanned underwater vehicle developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), displayed at DSEI Japan 2025. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is testing an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) prototype developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Janes learnt at the DSEI Japan 2025 show being held in Chiba from 21 to 23 May.
An MHI official told Janes that the company has developed two prototype variants of the UUV. The first prototype is 10 m long, while the second prototype is 16 m long.
The JMSDF is testing the 16 m prototype, the official said. The UUV is being developed to enhance the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the JMSDF, the official added.
The UUV is equipped with two sonars, an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and a satellite communications (satcom) antenna to support ISR operations, the official said.
The 10 m UUV prototype has a weight of 20 tons and a maximum endurance of seven days. The 16 m UUV prototype has a weight of 30 tons and an endurance of more than seven days, the official added. The official said the UUV is powered by lithium-ion batteries.
The official declined to provide additional technical details about the UUV including its range and operating depth.
For more information, please see DSEI Japan 2023: Japan to take delivery of OZZ-5 mine-countermeasures UUV .
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