This shipyard was previously known as Mitsui E&S. MHI acquired ownership of it in October 2021.
The vessel is named after the Yūbetsu River (湧別川, Yūbetsu-gawa), which flows through Hokkaidō, in Northern Japan. All ships of the class are named after famous rivers in Japan. The shipyard will now proceed to the fitting out stage of the frigate, ahead of its delivery to the JMSDF and commissioning set for the end of FY2024.
The first ship-in-class, Mogami, was launched in March 2021 by MHI (Naval News was on site to cover the event) and commissioned with the JMSDF in April this year. Another shipyard, Mitsui E & S Shipbuilding located in Okayama launched the second ship of the class, Kumano, back in November 2020. The third vessel in the series, Noshiro, was launched by MHI in June 2021 while the fourth FFM, Mikuma, and fifth one, Yahagi, were launched by the same shipyard in December 2021 and June 2022 respectively. The sixth FFM, Agano, was launched in December 2022 while the seventh ship in the class, Niyodo, was launched in September 2023.
The FFM (also known as 30FFM and previously known as 30DX) is the latest multi-mission frigate designed for the JMSDF. A total number of 12 Frigates are expected to be procured for the JMSDF, followed by 12 “new FFM” which are an improved design.
The two shipyards in charge of building the FFM frigates are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Nagasaki and in Okayama (formerly known as Mitsui E&S).
Mogami-class FFM characteristics
According to MHI, the FFM multi-mission frigate has a full load displacement of about 5,500 tons, with a length of 132.5 meters and a beam of 16.3 meters. It has a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots. The crew complement is quite low, at about 90 sailors, indicating a high level of automation on board.
The FFM will be equipped with a wide variety of weapons and systems as listed below:
- BAE Systems Mk.45 mod.4 5-inch naval gun system ×1
- Japan Steel Works 12.7mm Remote Weapon System ×2
- Mk.41 VLS (FFBNW)
- Raytheon SeaRAM ×1
- MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles ×8
- Mitsubishi Electric OPY-2 multifunction Radar
- Mitsubishi Electric OAX-3EO/IR sensors
- Hitachi OQQ-11 anti-mine sonar
- NEC OQQ-25 anti-submarine sonar (VDS/TASS)
- UUV (OZZ-5 by MHI) and USV (unknown type) for mine counter measures
- Sea mines for offensive mine warfare
New FFM program
The JMSDF had originally planned to build a total of 22 Mogami-class frigates as Tokyo ramps up efforts to strengthen the country’s naval forces under its Mid-Term Defense Program (MTDP) for fiscal years 2019–23, which was approved in December 2018.
However, in late August 2023, the defense ministry for the first time explained at its budget request for the next fiscal year 2024 that it has decided to now procure a total of only 12 such frigates until 2023, with plans to construct a new class of 12 FFMs from fiscal year 2024. The new frigates will be virtually improved Mogami-class ships. MHI was showcasing a scale model of the new FFM for the first time at Indo Pacific 2023 exposition in Sydney.
As previously reported by Naval News, the new-class FFM will be fitted with longer-range missiles, enhanced anti-submarine capabilities, and improved capabilities for various maritime operations.
Specifically, the ship-launched, improved version of the Type 12 SSM and the new ship-to-air guided missile (or simply A-SAM) will be equipped with the new-class FFM, defense officials said.
The MoD documents, released by the MoD on August 31, said the new-class FFM has a standard displacement of 4,500 tons. Meanwhile, according to MHI’s proposal of the new-class FFM, which was officially released by the ATLA on August 25, the new warship class will feature a heavier standard displacement of about 4,880 tons, a greater overall length of about 142 m, and a wider overall beam of about 17 m. The new vessels have a top speed of more than 30 kt, according to MHI’s proposal. Despite the fact the new class will be bigger than Mogami-class, defense officials said the new class’s crew complement will be only 90, the same as that of the Mogami-class. To achieve this, Japanese naval planners have likely incorporated the new class with a higher level of automation and deployed extensive lean-manning concepts throughout the vessel.
Our video coverage of the New FFM with MHI at Indo Pacific 2023:
