Mitsubishi delivers final Mogami-class frigate needed for Japan's navy overhaul

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched the 12th and final Mogami-class frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) at its Nagasaki shipyard.

The future JS Yoshii (FFM-12) multi-role guided-missile frigate is named after the Yoshii River, which flows through the Mikuni Mountains in Okayama Prefecture and into Kurashiki Bay, as highlighted by The Defense Post.

This week's launch comes just over a year after Japan’s defence ministry awarded MHI a contract worth approximately 58.3 billion yen (approx. $371 million) to build the final vessel in February 2024.

Following the launch, the frigate will enter its fitting-out phase ahead of its planned commissioning with the JMSDF by fiscal year 2026, which ends on March 31, 2027.

The Mogami-class program, launched in 2019, is intended to replace the JMSDF’s aging Abukuma-class frigates. Eight of the 12 stealth surface combatants have already entered service, beginning with the commissioning of the lead ship, JS Mogami (FFM-1), in April 2022. The ninth, 10th, and 11th vessels have also been launched and are currently undergoing outfitting.

The Mogami-class frigates are approximately 133 meters long and displace between 3,900 and 4,000 tons. They operate with a crew of around 90 personnel and can reach speeds of up to about 56 kilometers per hour.

Their armament includes a 127-millimeter naval gun, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes, as well as mine-laying systems.

As Japan completes the first batch of 12 Mogami-class frigates, it is also moving forward with a follow-on class of another 12 upgraded vessels.

Known as the “new FFM” or improved Mogami-class, the design features longer-range missiles, enhanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and a new ship-to-air guided missile system.

The upgraded frigates are larger than the original Mogami class, with a standard displacement of about 4,880 tons and an overall length of 142 meters.

In August 2025, Australia selected the improved Mogami design for its next-generation general-purpose frigate program.

By Nazrin Sadigova