Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches 7th Mogami-Class Frigate for JMSDF

By IndraStra Global News Team

Cover Image Attribute: On September 26th, the 7th MOGAMI-class frigate, named 'NIYODO' after the 'NIYODO River' in Ehime and Kochi prefectures, was launched at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). / Source: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has recently launched the seventh vessel of the Mogami-class frigate, named Niyodo, with the pennant number FFM-7. The launch event took place on September 26 at the Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagasaki Prefecture. The new frigate is set to join the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) fleet in fiscal year 2024, following the completion of outfitting and rigorous performance tests.
Niyodo takes its name from the Niyodo River, a prominent river in southwestern Japan's Shikoku region. It is worth noting that all ships in the Mogami-class are named after renowned rivers in Japan. A historical connection exists with the name Niyodo, as a previous JMSDF vessel, JDS Niyodo (DE-221), also bore this name. The seventh Chikugo-class ship, JDS Niyodo, was launched in August 1973 and decommissioned in June 1999.
JS Niyodo is being constructed at a cost of approximately 47.4 billion yen (equivalent to $318 million), as per the contract awarded in March 2022, based on information obtained from the JMSDF and MHI.
The Mogami-class frigate, like its predecessors, boasts impressive specifications. It has a full load displacement of about 5,500 tons (standard displacement of 3,900 tons), a length of 132.5 meters, a beam of 16.3 meters, and a hull draught of 9 meters. These dimensions make it a nimble and fast vessel, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 30 knots. Remarkably, the frigate maintains a lean crew complement of approximately 90 sailors, including 10 female crew members, thanks to its high degree of automation.
The JMSDF has emphasized that the Mogami-class frigates are designed to optimize manpower utilization and reduce ship construction costs. This focus aligns with the JMSDF's efforts to address the challenges of a manpower shortage and Japan's fiscal constraints, driven by demographic factors such as a declining birthrate and an aging population.

Image Attribute: On September 26th, the 7th MOGAMI-class frigate, named 'NIYODO' after the 'NIYODO River' in Ehime and Kochi prefectures, was launched at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). / Source: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
For comparison, the JMSDF's Asahi-class destroyer Shiranui, also built at the Nagasaki shipyard, has a standard displacement of 5,100 tons, a length of 151 meters, and a beam of 18.3 meters. These figures underscore the compact design of the Mogami-class, requiring less than half the crew and coming at only about two-thirds of the construction cost of the Asahi-class, which exceeds 70 billion yen per ship ($470 million).
The Mogami-class frigate features a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system consisting of two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, delivering a total of 70,000 horsepower. Notably, this marks the first implementation of a CODAG system on any JMSDF ship.
In terms of armaments, the frigates are armed with a BAE Systems 5-inch (127 mm)/62-caliber naval gun on the foredeck, two launchers capable of firing a total of eight MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles (SSM-2), and a Raytheon 11-cell SeaRAM close-in weapon system (CIWS) equipped with RIM-116C Block 2 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs). Additionally, the frigates are equipped with the OQQ-25 variable depth sonar and towed array sonar systems, enhancing their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. The ships are also set to incorporate an MK41 vertical launch system (VLS).
Beyond their anti-air, anti-surface, and ASW capabilities, the Mogami-class frigates are designed to function as "motherships" for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). This innovation aims to bolster the UUV's mine countermeasure (MCM) functions. The vessels will feature MHI's OZZ-5 UUV for MCM operations, equipped with advanced detection and classification capabilities, powered by a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

Image Attribute: On September 26th, the 7th MOGAMI-class frigate, named 'NIYODO' after the 'NIYODO River' in Ehime and Kochi prefectures, was launched at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). / Source: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)
The primary mission of the Mogami-class frigates, as stated by the JMSDF, is to conduct surveillance operations in the waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago, including the East China Sea. These frigates will possess enhanced multirole capabilities, including the ability to engage in anti-mine warfare operations, a task previously undertaken mainly by ocean-going minesweepers.
In light of China's expansion of its naval capabilities, the Mogami-class will play a crucial role in enhancing maritime security, particularly around the southwestern Nansei Islands, including the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, claimed by both Japan and China.
Regarding future plans, the JMSDF initially intended to build a total of 22 Mogami-class frigates under its Mid-Term Defense Program (MTDP) for fiscal years 2019-2023. However, in late August 2023, the defense ministry announced a change in its approach, opting to procure only 12 such frigates until 2023 and focusing on constructing a new class of 12 FFMs starting in fiscal year 2024. These new frigates will be essentially improved versions of the Mogami-class, featuring longer-range missiles, enhanced anti-submarine capabilities, and improved maritime operation capabilities.
The new-class FFMs will have a standard displacement of 4,500 tons, as per the Ministry of Defense's documents, but MHI's proposal suggests a heavier standard displacement of around 4,880 tons, a greater overall length of about 142 meters, and a wider overall beam of about 17 meters. Despite these expanded dimensions, the new-class frigates will maintain a crew complement of only 90, reflecting the Japanese Navy's commitment to automation and lean-manning concepts throughout the vessel.
The launch of Niyodo and the continued development of the Mogami-class frigates signify Japan's dedication to maintaining a strong naval presence and modernizing its maritime defense capabilities in the face of evolving regional challenges.

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