Kawasaki Heavy delivers 31st submarine to Japan

KOBE, Japan -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries transferred a submarine to Japan's Defense Ministry on Thursday, the fourth advanced Taigei-class submarine and the 31st sub built overall by the company in the postwar era.

Kawasaki Heavy built the Raigei submarine at a cost of 70.2 billion yen ($470 million). The vessel measures 84 meters long with a displacement of about 3,000 tonnes. The submarine will be deployed at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kure district headquarters near Hiroshima.