The Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power (JMSDF) has revealed that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Nagasaki Shipyard & Equipment Works launched the fourth Mogami-class vessel on 10 December. The JMSDF has additionally held the naming ceremony for the ship, which now bears the identify just like the Mikuma River at Oita prefecture, Kyusyu. Mikuma was laid down on 15 July 2020 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki and launched and anticipated to be commissioned in March 2023. The launch of the fourth frigate comes virtually precisely a yr after the primary Mogami-class vessel, which was really the second within the collection, hit the water in November 2020.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power

The Mogami-class frigate (30DEX) is a Japanese multi-mission stealth frigate in improvement for the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power (JMSDF). In 2015, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled the frigate’s first idea mannequin which they’ve been creating with their very own funds. The 30DX design (though trendy) is extra conservative in comparison with the 30FF’s extra radical strategy. The 30DX design has additionally been proven in Sea Air Area 2018 (in addition to 2019) and Euronaval 2018. The general intent of the 30DX design is to realize a contemporary frigate-sized vessel with capabilities just like the Akizuki-class destroyer however with a diminished crew and having solely half the vertical launching system (VLS) cells.

Commercial

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power

The Mogami-class frigate design has an general size of 133 m, breadth of 16 m, an ordinary displacement of 3900 tons with a full load displacement of about 5500 tons, and a most pace of over 30 knots. The stealthy design of fashions is predicated on the analysis and improvement classes discovered from the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin stealth fighter know-how demonstrator, as each platforms are designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Together with stealth capabilities, the frigate additionally emphasizes having a excessive stage of automation. This enables the frigate to own a low crew dimension of solely 90 personnel when in comparison with the crew complement of different ships of comparable dimension.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power

Superior Built-in CIC can show panoramic views across the ship with no blind spot on the display screen. It may show panoramic views across the ship with no blind spot on the display screen. Weapons for the 30DX embody a Mk 45 gun, two distant weapon stations above the bridge, 16-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) on the bow, 8 anti-ship missiles, one SeaRAM, an SH-60L helicopter, torpedoes, and decoy launchers. One other functionality is to deploy and get well unmanned underwater autos (UUV), unmanned floor autos (USV), and sea mines from the rear ramp beneath the helo deck. The Mogami-class frigate may also anticipate to make use of a naval model of the JGSDF’s Sort 03 Ch?-SAM long-range AA missile.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Launches Fourth Mogami-class Frigate for Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power