Japan unveils largest military ship

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's new helicopter destroyer DDH183 Izumo is seen before its launching ceremony in Yokohama, south of Tokyo August 6, 2013. The 19,500-ton, 248-metres long helicopter destroyer, the largest surface combatant of the Japanese navy, is able to carry seven shipborne helicopters and two rescue/transport helicopters. [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO -- Japan on Tuesday unveiled the "Izumo" warship, its largest one with 248 meters in length and 38 meters in width, and is expected to deploy the military ship in March 2015 for the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MSDF).

The launching ceremony was held at a Japan's Marine United Corp. plant in Kanagawa prefecture and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Shigeru Ishiba.

Five choppers could depart or land simultaneously on the 19,500- ton helicopter-equipped destroyer, local media quoted MSDF officers as saying, adding that the 120-billion-yen (about 1.22 billion U.S. dollars) warship is also fit for the US Osprey aircraft.

The new warship is about 50 meters longer than the MSDF's current two largest operational destroyers named "Hyuga" and "Ise" and another warship at "Izumo" size is under constructing, said Japan's Kyodo News.

The Izumo will also be used for offshore helicopter maintenance operations and replenishing other warships, said the report.