Harusame is one of nine Japanese frigates that entered service between 1996
and 2002, with this one being the second in her class. These ships are about
4,500 tonnes and 150 meters long, making them bigger than the long-serving
Oliver Hazard Perry class of US and allied frigates, and roughly similar to
the old British Type 22.
Harusame and her classmates are rigged for primary anti submarine and
anti surface roles, and can carry the Japanese Type 90 anti ship missile
(similar in performance to the Harpoon), and the ASROC anti-submarine
missile, as well as torpedo tubes. For the air defence role, they have the
Evolved Sea Sparrow. The Type 90s have their own launch tubes but the other
missiles are fired from a vertical cell system just behind the bow gun. They
carry a Seahawk helicopter in a hangar at the rear.
Self defence systems include a pair of Phalanx 20mm Close In Weapons System -
the white droid-like items at front and rear - and the little 3-inch OTO Melara
gun up front. The latter seems a little under-done for a ship of this size,
given that smaller frigates (like the Type 22 and even the smaller ANZAC class)
have 4.5 inch or 5 inch guns. Presumably Japan has little need for naval gunfire
support, at least from this class of ships. That said, the last five of this
class were cancelled in favour of a slightly larger class, the Takanami, which
gained a five inch gun but was otherwise fairly similar.
Harusame has certain modern features like limited radar cross signature (but not
stealthy like more modern ships) and a submarine detection system the equivalent
of that used by the US Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke class ships, and an
electronic warfare (EW) suite of similar quality to the current US Navy
systems.
This
is a neat little kit from Aoshima. I don't keep up with ship kits, really, so I
can't say whether it's state of the art or not. That said, it's quite nicely
moulded and the masts are thin and look like they'd be fine without PE
replacement. There is a PE set available, advertised on the side of the kit box.
It's a waterline model, comes with a nicely formed Seahawk helicopter and a pair
of RHIB speedboats, and a piece of metal "ballast". The decals include the
ship's number, flight deck markings and markings for the chopper. Unlike some
other Aoshima kits, and those of other brands, this one doesn't come with random
patrol planes or fighter jets. 
This
is a neat little kit from Aoshima. I don't keep up with ship kits, really, so I
can't say whether it's state of the art or not. That said, it's quite nicely
moulded and the masts are thin and look like they'd be fine without PE
replacement. There is a PE set available, advertised on the side of the kit box.