TSAMTO, May 24th. On May 21, the Mogami-class frigate (FFM-5) Yahagi joined the combat team of the 14th Division of the escort Forces of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces, which is stationed at the Maizuru Naval Base in Kyoto Prefecture.
(FFM-5) Yahagi is the fifth Mogami-class ship built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japanese Navy. The contract is worth 47.2 billion. The yen ($302 million) for its construction was awarded in February 2021.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Mogami–class frigate (also known as Project 30DX, 30FFM) is a low-profile multi-purpose combat ship of a new generation 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 (MHI) as the main contractor for the creation of a project for a new class of multipurpose destroyer squadrons (frigates) 30DX. Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding ATLA, which also participated in the competition, was appointed the main subcontractor for the project. MHI was to build the lead ship of the series, and Mitsui was to build the second frigate.
(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 due to technical problems, but since it was ordered first, the command of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces considers it the lead in the series.
Laid down in October 2019 by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding at the Tamano shipyard (pref.Okayama) the frigate (FFM-2) "Kumano" (Kumano) was commissioned on March 22, 2022. In 2021, Mitsui became part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The frigate (FFM-1) Mogami was transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces in March 2022, the third frigate of the series, Noshiro, in December 2022, and the fourth, Mikuma, in March 2023.
On June 23, 2022, the fifth ship of the series, Yahagi, was launched, in December 2022 – the sixth (FFM-6) Agano, in September 2023 – the seventh (FFM-7) Niyodo, in November 2023 – the eighth (FFM-8) "Yubetsu" (Yubetsu).
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 this number has been reduced to 12 units. At the same time, starting in 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 Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that, following the results of the competition, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was selected as the general contractor for the construction of the New FFM multipurpose frigates, and Japan Marine United (JMU) as a subcontractor. MHI for the first time demonstrated a scale model of the new frigate at the Indo Pacific 2023 exhibition in Sydney.
Kyodo News agency reported on May 7, 2024, that the Japanese government is considering participating in a tender for the supply of new frigates for Australia. The project involves the joint development of a ship based on a Mogami-class frigate.
