During December 2007, South Korea's largest warship, the amphibious assault ship Dokdo, sailed off the coast of Langkawi, Malaysia, while taking part in LIMA Maritime '07, one of Asia's most expansive naval exhibitions. The Dokdo was launched by Hanjin Heavy Industries in Mansan in May 2005 and entered service in the summer of 2007. Displacing about 19,000 tons (full-load), the ship is armed with two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) systems and two 30-mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) for self-defense. Dokdo is capable of carrying an air group of 10 medium-sized helicopters or more than 700 troops and their equipment, plus 10 main battle tanks. The ship is also fitted with a stern docking well able to launch and house LCAC-type hovercraft. A sister ship, to be named Marado, is expected in service by 2010, and a third unit will likely join the fleet by 2015. Eventual plans call for these large amphibious ships to form the core element of South Korea's future maritime Rapid Reaction Fleet that will, along with a number of Korea's KDX-type destroyers and at least one Type 209 submarine, enable enhanced power projection and provide a significant on-call contribution to the international maritime scene.
Japan received a major defensive capability boost on 17 December 2007 when the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer Kongo engaged, intercepted, and destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target launched from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii. The successful test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and SM-3 Block-1A missile systems occurred as a result of close cooperation between the JMSDF and U.S. Navy and adds an additional layer of protection for allied assets in the Pacific. The event also demonstrates the high level of interoperability between JMSDF and U.S. maritime assets. Currently, ten U.S. Navy warships have similar capabilities, while seven more U.S. surface warships maintain the ability to track—though not engage—short- and medium-range missiles. Plans call for all members of the Japanese Kongo class to be enhanced with this capability as will a total of 15 U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke—class destroyers and three Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
Soryu, the first of Japan's Improved Oyashio-class submarines was launched on 5 December 2007. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Kobe, Japan, the Soryu and her sisters are an enhancement over previous submarines of the Oyashio class, including class-leader Oyashio, pictured here. Measuring 84-meters long and possessing a submerged displacement of 4,280 tons, Soryu and her yet to be completed sisters are roughly 500 tons heavier and 2.5 meters longer then their 11 predecessors of the standard Oyashio class. The newer boats' increase in length and displacement is largely due to the inclusion of the Kockums Stirling Air Independent Propulsion system, thus allowing for far longer periods of submerged operation. By 2011, 11 standard Oyashio-class submarines will have entered service with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces along with three Improved Oyashio types, which are now sometimes referred to as the Soryu class.