The first JMSDF OYASHIO class submarine was launched in 1998. 9 submarines was taking service in JMSDF till 2006. Two more of the class are building or on order, with the tenth planned to commission in 2007. The 268-foot submarines carry 20 torpedoes or UGM-84C Harpoon missiles, unlike the three previous Japanese submarine classes, have bow-mounted torpedo tubes and conformal sonar arrays.
