Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches New Stealth Destroyer... Commissioning Starts Next Year

Excellent Anti-Ship, Anti-Submarine, and Air Defense Capabilities... Intent to Check China
Japan Plans to Possess 22 Ships in Total... Intensifying Northeast Asia Shipbuilding Competition

On the 3rd, the launching ceremony of the new stealth frigate Mogami, launched at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard in Japan
[Image source=Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Twitter]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced that the new stealth frigate (FFM), scheduled to be commissioned next year, has held its launching ceremony. The FFM is expected to play a role in deterring the Chinese fleet in the South China Sea area, with excellent anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air capabilities. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to significantly enhance its naval power by possessing a total of 22 ships, intensifying the shipbuilding competition in Northeast Asia.

According to local Japanese media such as NHK on the 3rd, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held the launching ceremony for the first FFM ship, the Mogami, at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Nagasaki Shipyard. The Mogami was originally scheduled to be launched in November last year, but the ceremony was postponed due to issues discovered during the parts manufacturing process. It was held only about four months after the second ship, Kuma, was launched. The Maritime Self-Defense Force announced that the Mogami is planned to be commissioned starting next year.

The Mogami, with a displacement of 3,900 tons, is a stealth frigate measuring 132.5 meters in length and 16 meters in width, designed to reduce hull surface irregularities to avoid radar detection. It is reported to be powered by two German MENS diesel engines, capable of speeds around 30 knots. Equipped with anti-ship missiles, anti-air missiles, and mine clearance systems, it is evaluated to have excellent capabilities in anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare. Additionally, the crew complement has been reduced to about 90, roughly half that of existing frigates, a measure reportedly taken in consideration of personnel shortages in the Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to produce up to 22 FFM ships, including an additional 10 ships to be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries by 2023, aiming to deter the Chinese fleet in the South China Sea area.