Named Yahagi (with pennant number FFM-5), the newest Mogami-class frigate was inducted into Escort Division 14, headquartered at the Maizuru naval base in Kyoto Prefecture, shortly after being handed over by Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagasaki.
Yahagi (やはぎ) was named after the Yahagi River (矢作川, Yahagi-gawa) that flows through Nagano, Gifu, and Aichi prefectures in central Japan. It was launched by MHI in Nagasaki on 23 June 2022.
The Mogami-class frigates, also known as 30FFM and previously known as 30DX, is the JMSDF’s latest stealthy multi-mission frigate, intended for surveillance missions in waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago, including the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
According to the JMSDF, this frigate class is equipped with enhanced multirole capabilities, including the ability to conduct mine countermeasure operations, which until now have been performed by the JMSDF’s ocean-going minesweepers. As China and Russia continue to send ships and aircraft to the seas around Japan, Tokyo is betting on compact, missile-laden vessels to deter any hostile neighbours effectively.
Mogami-class / FFM characteristics
According to MHI, the FFM multi-mission frigate will have a full load displacement of about 5,500 tons, with a length of 132.5 meters and a beam of 16.3 meters. The crew complement will be quite low, at about 90 sailors, indicating a high level of automation on board.
Equipped with compact hulls, JS Yahagi is being built for about 47.2 billion yen ($302 million) under a contract awarded in February 2021.
Powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system featuring two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, the Mogami-class is capable of attaining a top speed of more than 30 knots. The Mogami-class marks the first instalment of a CODAG system on any JMSDF ship.
The FFM will be equipped with a wide variety of weapons and systems as listed below.
- BAE Systems 5-inch (127-mm) 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun system ×1
- Japan Steel Works 12.7mm Remote Weapon System ×2
- Mk.41 VLS (16 cells)
- Raytheon SeaRAM ×1
- MHI Type 17 (SSM-2) 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 (by JMU Defense Systems) for mine countermeasures
- 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. However, it has decided to now procure a total of only 12 such frigates until the fiscal year 2023, with plans to acquire a new class of 12 FFMs from 2024 until 2028. The new frigates will essentially be improved Mogami-class ships that are set to be built to the design proposed by MHI.
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. With better anti-aircraft and search capabilities, the new FFM may become closer to an FFG (missile frigate).
Australia Lists Mogami Class as 1 of 4 Contenders for Its Next Frigate
As part of strengthening the Royal Australian Navy’s surface combat fleet capability, Australia listed the Mogami-class frigate of the JMSDF as one of the four candidates for the navy’s next frigate, with the other three vessels being Germany’s Meko A-200, South Korea’s Daegu class FFX Batch II and III, and Spain’s Navantia ALFA3000.
In response, Admiral Sakai Ryo, chief of staff of the JMSDF, praised this move.
“We believe that Australia has picked frigates from these countries based on its own information. The fact that the Mogami class was selected as a candidate is a sign of the high level of trust and evaluation of Japanese equipment,” Sakai said at a press conference on 6 March, adding “the JMSDF intends to actively exchange opinions with the Royal Australian Navy.”
Kyodo News reported on 7 May 21, 2024 that the Japanese government is considering participating in a bid for Australia’s new general-purpose frigate. It is envisioning joint development with the Albanese government, based on Mogami-class. Kyodo News reported.
“It would be unusual (for Japan) if a decision was made to export a vessel with high lethality, but there is a possibility of competition with other countries, and it is unclear whether the order will be awarded,” the news agency also reported.
