Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) launched the latest ship in the series of Mogami-class frigates (FFMs) in a ceremony at its historic Nagasaki Shipyard on 19 December.
JS Nagara is the tenth in a series of twelve Mogami-class ships for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and is named after the Nagara River on the main island of Honshu. The ship formally given its name during the launch ceremony by Kenji Wakamiya, Senior Advisor to Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD).
Following the completion of the 12 Mogami-class ships, MHI will shift production to the Upgraded Mogami-class design for the JMSDF, with the first vessel to be launched in 2027. This version will feature an increase in the number of Mk.41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells from the currently planned 16, to 32, as well as well as the inclusion of a Multi-Function Sonar (MFS) system in lieu of the Mogami’s mine-optimised sonar; and improved Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.
Rear Admiral Touri Sasaki, Deputy Director General of Naval Systems within the project management department of Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) told ADM that both variants are fully interoperable with the US Navy – a key requirement for the JMSDF – and capable of operating in high intensity conflicts.
The upgraded design is one of three ships shortlisted for the Commonwealth’s Sea 3000 program, which seeks to acquire twelve “off the shelf” General Purpose frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. For this MHI is competing with Germany’s TKMS, which is offering a version of its MEKO 200 design recently delivered to Egypt, as well as an ‘Australianised’ variant of the vessel.
The project requires the first three vessels to be built in either Germany or Japan, depending on who wins, with the balance to be constructed by Austal at Henderson in Western Australia.
Notably, the Japanese offer for Sea 3000 enjoys the full support of the Japanese MoD, ATLA and MHI and is seen in Tokyo as an opportunity to strengthen strategic relationships between the two countries. To this end, the National Security Council of Japan cleared the way for the upgraded Mogami design to be transferred to Australia during a meeting on 27 November.
If MHI is selected for Sea 3000, it says the first ship for Australia will be the 15th vessel in the series and the third upgraded Mogami ship.
“If Mogami is selected we believe it will not only very much strengthen the special strategic relationship (between Japan and Australia), but contribute to strengthening the supply chains of Australia and Japan and also contribute to deterrence in our region,” ATLA’s Deputy Commissioner and Doctor of Policy Studies Osamu Nishiwaki told ADM in Nagasaki.
A detailed report on the upgraded Mogami design and Japan’s desire to strengthen defence ties with Australia will feature in the February-March issue of ADM.
Disclaimer: The writer travelled to Japan as a guest of Japan’s Ministry of Defense.