TSAMTO, June 24th. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) transferred a new Mogami-class frigate (FFM-6) Agano to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces at its Nagasaki facility on June 20.
On the same day, the frigate joined the Japanese Navy.
(FFM-6) Agano is the sixth Mogami-class ship built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces. The contract is worth 47 billion. yen ($346 million) for its construction was awarded in February 2021. The ceremony of naming and launching the Agano took place on December 21, 2022.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, the home port of Agano will be the naval base in Maizuru.
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 ships 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 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 in Tamano (pref.Okayama) the frigate (FFM-2) "Kumano" (Kumano) was commissioned on March 22, 2022. In 2021, Mitsui became part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
(FFM-1) Mogami was transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces in April 2022, the third frigate of the series, Noshiro, in December 2022, the fourth, Mikuma, in March 2023, and the fifth, Yahagi- in May 2024.
The launch of the seventh ship of the series, (FFM-7) Niyodo, took place in September 2023, and the eighth, (FFM-8) Yubetsu, in November 2023.
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.
The length of the Mogami–class frigate is 132.5 m, width – 16.3 m, draft – 9 m, standard /full displacement - 3900/5500 tons, crew – about 90 people. The ships are equipped with a combined main power plant of the CODAG type, consisting of a British Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine unit and two MAN 12V28/33D-STC diesel engines, which can reach a maximum speed of more than 30 knots. The ships' armament includes a 127 mm Mk-45 Mod artillery system.4 BAE Systems companies, two remotely controlled weapon modules with 12.7mm machine guns, two four-container launchers of the Type-17 PKR, a SeaRAM missile launcher manufactured by Raytheon/Diehl BGT Defense, Mk UVP.41 with the Type-03 missile defense system, sea mines. The main multifunctional OPY-2 radar and other sensors are located in an integrated mast. The ship received modern tactical data transmission channels, a satellite communication system, a hull-mounted mine detection gas and GAS with a passive towed antenna. Aft there is a hangar and a helicopter landing pad.
