Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched the ninth Mogami-class guided-missile frigate ordered by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The future JS Natori is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in 2025, with the entire fleet of 12 warships planned for induction by 2028.
MHI and its subsidiary Maritime Systems are building the vessels in Nagasaki and Tamano at a rate of two per year.
The Mogami Class
The Mogami class is set to be the mainstay of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, featuring an array of advanced features.
It has a displacement of 5,500 tons at full load, an overall length of 132 meters (433 feet), and a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles per hour).
Combined diesel and gas propulsion powers the vessels, comprising a Rolls-Royce gas turbine and two MAN diesel engines.
Weapons
The vessels will replace the fleets of Asagiri-class and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts that have been in service since the late 1980s.
The warship is armed with a BAE Systems 127 mm naval gun and is equipped with a vertical launching system for Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missiles and two launchers for anti-ship missiles.
Additional weapons include torpedoes, machine guns on remote weapon stations, and mines.
Expected Tasks
The stealthy warship is expected to be deployed for patrolling and surveillance missions, featuring a small crew, unmanned seacraft, and augmented reality for navigation.
Its area of operations includes the waters surrounding the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.