Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has shown their air warfare frigate design for Japan dubbed “FMF-AAW” by MHI (“New FFM” program according to the Japanese MoD) at Indopacific 2023 in Sydney. The designation stands for “Future Multi-mission Frigate – Anti Air Warfare”. Basic specifications are a full load displacement of 6,200 tons with a length of 142 metres and a beam of 17.4 metres. This compares to a full load displacement of 5,250 tons for the Mogami-class. The hull is also ten metres longer and one metre wider than Mogami. Despite notable overall visual similarity to Mogami the new FMF-AAW therefore represents a very substantial redesign.
New FFM Missile and self defense armament
Compared to the legacy FMF, FMF-AAW, as the designation implies, will focus more on air defence courtesy of a 32 cell-VLS on the bow. Mogami in contrast features a 16 cell-VLS suited primarily to self defence. The in-service ships notably have not yet been equipped with the actual missile cells yet, with integration planned at a later date. Similar to Mogami the new frigate will feature a 5 inch-gun at the bow, two quadruple antiship missile-launchers amidships and a SeaRAM missile close in weapon system (CIWS) on the hangar.
New FFM Sensors and propulsion
For sensors another commonality with Mogami will be the “Unicorn” NORA-50 integrated mast. A departure from the existing frigate design will be a new phased array radar system with a re-orientation of the integrated mast. MHI representatives told Naval News that the company decided to angle the main mast radar panels at 45 degrees based on feedback from JMSDF. This should improve coverage and sweep compared to the design on Mogami facing directly forward, aft and to each side.
Propulsion will be another commonality with Mogami, featuring a combined dual diesel and single gas turbine (CODAG) arrangement for a top speed of more than 30 knots. FMF-AAW supports a single helicopter with a hangar and landing pad.
Construction schedule
For production the current intention is to commence building the new air warfare frigate for Japan following completion of the current effort building 12 Mogami-class frigates. MHI intents to follow up construction of Mogami from 2027 with twelve new frigates to the “FMF-AAW”-standard. The timeframe for completion provided by Mitsubishi-representatives to Naval News is nine years, with the first two hulls build at MHI’s shipyards in Nagasaki and Tamano over the course of four years. From 2031 the remaining ten hulls would be build at a pace of two per year for completion of the entire production run by 2036. The timeframe given by MHI appears to contradict earlier communication by the Japanese Ministry of Defense indicating procurement of a new type frigate commencing in 2024. However this may be explained by government officials referring to budget appropriations for the program, while MHI-figures appear more realistic for the actual construction and induction of FMF-AAW with the JSMDF.
New FFM for Australia?
The unveiling of the New FFM model at Indopacific 2023 is a notable step by MHI considering the background of the unresolved Tier1- and Tier 2-requirements for the Royal Australian Navy. When asked by Naval News on their intent to offer the design to the ADF, MHI-officials declined to provide a direct answer but emphasised that the company is focused on generating interest in the design abroad.
