Japan Mogami warship: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched the last ship of the Mogami-class frigate series for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The company carried out the launch at its shipyard in Nagasaki. This ship is the 12th and final vessel in the class.
The new ship will later join the navy as JS Yoshii with the number FFM-12. The ship takes its name from the Yoshii River. This river flows through the Mikuni Mountains in Okayama Prefecture and ends in Kurashiki Bay. The launch happened a little more than one year after Japan’s defence ministry gave the contract to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The deal came in February 2024 and had a value of about 58.3 billion yen, which equals around $371 million, reported The defense post.
After the launch, the ship will now move into the fitting-out stage. Workers will install systems and equipment before the navy accepts it. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to commission the ship by fiscal year 2026. This period ends on March 31, 2027.
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Japan Mogami warship: Modern Sea War
Japan started the Mogami-class program in 2019. The goal is to replace the older Abukuma-class frigates that have served for many years. These new ships use stealth design to reduce radar visibility and improve survival at sea.
So far til now 8 of the 12 ships already serve with the navy. The first ship, JS Mogami or FFM-1, entered service in April 2022. The 9th, 10th and 11th ships have already been launched and are still getting final equipment fitted.
Each Mogami-class frigate measures about 133 meters in length, which equals 436 feet. The ships weigh between 3,900 and 4,000 metric tons. Around 90 crew members operate each vessel. These warships can reach speeds close to 30 knots, or about 56 kilometers per hour, which equals 35 miles per hour.
The ships carry strong weapons. They have a 127 mm naval gun. They also carry surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles. The frigates can fight submarines using rockets and torpedoes. They can also lay sea mines when needed.
Bigger and Stronger Mogami ships Coming
While Japan finishes the first group of 12 Mogami-class ships, it has already moved ahead with a new and improved version. Officials call this future design the “new FFM” or improved Mogami-class. Japan plans to build another 12 ships under this upgraded program.
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The improved ships will carry missiles that can strike targets at longer ranges. They will also have stronger systems to hunt submarines. A new ship-to-air guided missile will also be part of the design. These upgraded frigates will be larger than the current Mogami ships. Each will have a standard weight of about 4,880 metric tons. The length will grow to around 142 meters, or 466 feet.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to build two of these ships every year. Construction will take place at the company’s shipyards in Nagasaki and Tamano. Its Maritime Systems unit will also support the work.
