TSAMTO, September 28. The ceremony of naming and launching the seventh Mogami-class frigate (also known as Project 30DX, 30FFM) for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces took place at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) shipyard in Nagasaki.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense on September 26, the ship received the name (FFM-7) "Niyodo" (Niyodo). After launching the ship, the company will continue to equip it with the necessary equipment and prepare for testing before delivery to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces, which is scheduled for 2024. The construction of the frigate is carried out within the framework of a contract signed with MHI in March 2022 worth about 47.4 billion. yen ($318 million).
As reported by TSAMTO, the Mogami–class frigate is a new generation warship designed to perform various tasks, including combating submarines and air targets, mine warfare, and ensuring the safety of sea routes. The main task of the frigates is to patrol the exclusive economic zone of Japan. The new frigates will replace the obsolete destroyers of the Abukuma, Hatsuyuki and Asagiri classes.
In August 2017, the Japanese Agency for Procurement, Technology and Logistics ATLA (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency) selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the main contractor for the development of a new class of multipurpose destroyers (frigates) 30DX (also known under the designation FFM and 30FFM). Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company ATLA, which participated in the competition, was appointed the main subcontractor of the project. MHI was to build the lead ship of the series, and Mitsui was to build the second frigate. The cost of one ship of the series is estimated at 48-50 billion. yen ($456.7 million).
(FFM-1) Mogami was launched at the Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works of MHI Company in Nagasaki Prefecture on March 3, 2021, later than the second frigate of the series due to technical problems. Since the Mogami was ordered first, the command of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces considers it the lead ship of the series.
Laid down in October 2019 at the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding shipyard in Tamano (pref.Okayama) frigate (FFM-2) "Kumano" (Kumano) was put into service on March 22, 2022. In March 2021, Mitsui became part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The third frigate of the series, Noshiro, was transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces on December 15, 2022, and the fourth, Mikuma, in March 2023.
In June 2022, the fifth ship of the series, Yahagi, was launched, and in December 2022, the sixth (FFM–6) Agano.
Initially, the plans of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces included the construction of up to 22 ships of this series by 2032, but at the moment their number has been reduced to 12 units. At the same time, starting from 2024, it is planned to build 12 frigates of a new class, which will actually be an improved version of the Mogami.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Defense of Japan announced that, following the results of the competition, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) was selected as the general contractor for the construction of the New FFM multipurpose frigates, and Japan Marine United (JMU) as a subcontractor.
