Japan Exports New Warship For the First Time in its Modern History

Australia is ready to purchase a Japanese-made frigate for its Navy by signing a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Japanese publication Nikkei reported on this.

On Monday, at a meeting of the National Security Committee, the Australian government confirmed its intention to accept the Japanese company’s offer to supply frigates.

The publication notes that negotiations with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on the final price and other details are still ongoing. However, after signing the contract, the first vessel may be delivered as early as 2029.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shared on his social media that these are frigates of the modernized Mogami project.

The New FFM project is a further development of the Mogami, which has been chosen as a platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future general-purpose frigates.

If the deal goes through, it will be the first overseas sale of a new Japanese warship since the 80-year arms export ban the country adopted after World War II.

Only in 2014 did the Japanese government ease the restrictions by adopting a new defense export policy that theoretically allows the sale of military equipment. But in fact, Japan has not yet sold full-fledged warships abroad, only individual components or non-lethal equipment.

Mogami

The NewFFM is a deeply modernized successor to the Mogami frigate, which has gained in size and weaponry to meet the new requirements of the Japanese Navy.

The new ship is 9 meters longer and has increased its displacement from 3,900 to 4,880 tons, which allows for more weapons and improved survivability. At the same time, the speed will be maintained at 30 knots, as in the previous design.

A 32-cell Mk 41 VLS vertical launcher has been installed on board, which will be able to carry SM-2/SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles, as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles. In addition, the ship is expected to integrate maritime drones for mine countermeasures and reconnaissance.

In addition, like the Mogami project ships, the NewFFM is to receive a 127-mm Mk 45 Mod 4 artillery system, as well as eight launchers for Type 17 anti-ship missiles (SSM-2).

For anti-submarine warfare, the previous design included six 324 mm torpedo launchers, as well as SeaRAM short-range anti-aircraft systems.