JMU have been given a new export opportunity with their OPV design, which represents a change from the traditional large surface combattants built to date for the JMSDF, and could meet Asian regional needs .
While JMU is very interested in future destroyer programs, it already has its hands full with its current activities. In addition to the production of heavy tonnage coastguard vessels, JMU has been awarded contract to build 4 OPVs for the JMSDF, and to deliver them in a very tight timeframe with only two years to go from first cut to launch. Their construction started in April 2025 as already reported by Naval News a few weeks ago.
These vessels should conduct patrol operations in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and why not beyond if needed, and complement the coastguards’ resources. The JMSDF is very active in territorial waters surveillance, but lacks low-cost assets. According to a JMU representative, the Navy uses very large vessels such as frigates and destroyers, which are very costly both financially and in terms of human resources when they could rely on smaller, highly automated units that are much more flexible in their use.
In addition, a certain firepower capability could be added on the latter making it a very modular and deterrent platform for a such small vessel. Indeed, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has shown interest in containerized Mk 70 VLS systems from Lockheed Martin aiming to integrate anti-ship missiles (ASMs) into containerized launch systems, enabling their deployment on vessels that are not originally planned to carry missiles, such as these new OPVs that have just entered production.
In any case, the Japanese shipyard has indicated that it has no intention of settling for its sole contract with ATLA for its OPV solution. In fact, the same JMU representative told Naval News that the company had received the green light from ATLA to export the military design of its OPV, meaning here the possible export of the ship with its weapons systems. This is reflected in the 3D design presented by JMU, with its extensive technical specifications and options, which naturally aroused our curiosity. For example, the graphic shows a main barrel of up to 76mm, while the JMSDF’s OPV will be 30mm. DSEI JAPAN was therefore a double opportunity for JMU: to discuss with the domestic market, but also to prospect within the framework of this new export opportunity and the resulting potential international prospects.
Among the possible new prospects, many speculations and theories can be made. The Philippines and Indonesia could be mentioned, both being nations with which Japan has a long history of cooperation. The Japanese government has, for example, financed and supplied coastguard patrol vessels for the Philippines. JMU could therefore take advantage of current agreements and trends to supply its OPVs for export. This, of course, remains to be confirmed.
Although export taboo was partially broken with the Australian SEA3000 program and MHI’s participation in it by proposing the design of the New FFM, the Japanese government’s export control seems to be loosening and defining a new trend which could bring Japan as a new player on the international defense market. Years to come and outcome of the SEA3000 program will probably bring one part of the answer.
