Niyodo: 7th Mogami frigate launched for JMSDF

On September 26, a ceremony of naming and launching frigates took place at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) shipyard in Nagasaki Niyodo Mogami type. Information about this event was given by the Japanese Marine Defense Forces (JMSDF) on platform X. It is the seventh Mogami type unit, also known as 30FFM.

In the article

New unit, Niyodo 「によど, is a Mogami-type frigate (the designation FFM-7), which was shown during an official ceremony that took place on September 26 at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagasaki Prefecture. The frigate is expected to be incorporated into the JMSDF service in tax year 2024, after completion of the frigate equipment process and a series of sea trials. The ship was named after the Niyodo River, flowing in the Shikoku region of southwest Japan.

JMSDF has a tradition of giving its individuals names derived from Japanese rivers. In the past, there was a ship called JDS. Niyodo (DE-221), which is part of a Chikugo series of ships. On 8 February 1974, the ship entered service, and its active action ended in June 1999. Financial resources for the construction of a new frigate Niyodo, in the amount of 47.4 billion yen (equivalent to $318 million), were secured on the basis of a March 2022 contract.

Specifications and frigate systems Niyodo

Like other units of this type, Niyodo has a full displacement of about 5500 tonnes (standard displacement of 3900 tonnes). Its dimensions are: length 132.5 meters, width 16.3 meters and dive Hull at 9 meters. Its modern design makes it fast and reversible, reaching a maximum speed exceeding 30 knots.

The Mogami frigate operates with a small crew of only 90 sailors, indicating advanced automation on board.

The Mogami ship is an innovative solution among the Japanese fleet to reduce employment and reduce production costs. This approach is a response to current challenges.

By comparison, the Asahi-type destroyer, named Shiranui, built in the same shipyard in Nagasaki, has a standard displacement of 5100 tons, a length of 151 metres and a width of 18.3 metres. This emphasizes how innovative the hull of FFM units is. Moreover, the type of Asahi works with a crew of about 230 people, while the type of Mogami ships need less than half of this number, only 90 people. In terms of costs, the construction price of Mogami units is about two thirds of the Asahi type, whose construction costs more than 70 billion yen per unit ($470 million).

Mogami type units are equipped with a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system. It consists of two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine with a total power of 70,000 hp. This is the first unit in the Japanese Marine Defense Forces to have a CODG-type propulsion system.

The frigate is composed of: 5-inch (127 mm) /62-calibre marine cannon by BAE Systems placed on the bow of the ship, two MHI Type 17 anti-ship missile launchers, also known as SSM-2, which can hold a total of eight rockets, and an 11-chamber SeaRAM (CIWS) short-range defense system for Raytheon, capable of storing RIM-116C Block 2 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM).

These frigates are also equipped with sonar with variable depth OQQ-25 and towed sonar systems adapted for submarine operations (ASW). Additionally, these units will be equipped with a vertical launch system MK41 (VLS).

Fregata Niyodo as a mother ship

In addition to air defense and submarine capabilities, frigate Niyodo was also designed to act as a "mother ship" for an unmanned submarine (UUV) and an unmanned submarine (USV). They will be the first such individuals in history in the Japanese Navy. The main objective of this solution is to strengthen the UUV (MCM) mine capacity.

ATLA has announced that Mogami-type units will be equipped with an OZZ-5 model produced by MHI, which will play a role in submarine operations as UUV.

The system has automatic detection and categorisation functionality to facilitate the processing of the collected information by the operator. UUV, called OZZ-5, measuring 4 m long and 0.5 m wide, with a displacement of 950 kg, is equipped with a Japanese low frequency SAS system, produced by NEC and a French high-frequency SAS system by Thales. These systems were designed to provide effective detection and categorisation capabilities for different mines in many environments. UUV is powered by lithium-ion battery.

The tasks of the Mogami frigate

JMSDF stresses that Mogami frigates play a key role in observing waters around the Japanese archipelago. Pointing particularly at the East China Sea. These units offer advanced functions. They are multitasking and specialize in antimine activities. So far only ocean trawlers have dealt with this area.

The dynamic development of China's Marine Force makes frigates Mogami crucial. They have an important task in observing water areas. JMSDF puts on maritime security. It is mainly the area of the Nansei islands, including Senkaku/Diaoyu in the East China Sea. Japan controls these islands, but China and Taiwan claim them.

FFM: Next steps in development

Initially, the Japanese Marine Defense Forces, intended to build a total of 22 Mogami-type frigates as part of Tokyo's activities, towards strengthening the potential of the country's naval forces. These actions were part of the medium-term defence programme (MTDP) for 2019-23, which entered into force in December 2018.

The unexpected return in the strategy was the decision of the Ministry of Defence announced in late August 2023, as part of a budget proposal for the tax year 2024. The originally planned 22 Mogami frigates have been reduced to 12 units to be delivered by 2023. In addition, the construction of the new type of FFM is to start from tax year 2024. New units will be designed as improved versions of Mogami frigates.

According to the Western media, Niyodo's frigate will be equipped with missiles with more range than currently used: more advanced means to combat submarines and improved operational capabilities. Among the novelties will include an improved version of the Type 12 SSM missile and a new missile directed from the ship towards the air target, also called A-SAM.

Written by Sylwester Pietrzak