Japan welcomes seventh Mogami-class frigate

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has held a delivery ceremony for the newest Mogami-class frigate built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

As disclosed, the seventh vessel in this class, Niyodo, was delivered on May 21, 2025, at the company’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, located in Akunoura-cho, Nagasaki City.

The vessel was ordered in fiscal year 2021 and represents the seventh unit of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s 3,900-ton Mogami-class destroyers.

Niyodo follows the earlier delivery of its sister ships: Mogami (flagship), Kumano, Noshiro, Mikuma, Yahagi, and Agano, all of which have already been commissioned by the Ministry of Defense.

Niyodo has an overall length of 133.0 meters, a beam (width) of 16.3 meters, and a depth of 9.0 meters. It is capable of reaching speeds of approximately 30 knots, powered by a hybrid propulsion system consisting of one gas turbine and two diesel engines.

The vessel is equipped with advanced weaponry and defense systems, including a 5-inch 62-caliber naval gun, a SeaRAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) system for close-in defense, two surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers, an anti-submarine warfare system, a mine countermeasure system, and a vertical launch system for various guided munitions.

Construction of Niyodo began with its keel laying on June 30, 2022. The ship was launched on September 26, 2023.

These multirole frigates are specifically designed for more compact operations near Japan’s shores, but they are also capable of undertaking a wide range of missions.

In addition to anti-piracy operations, the ships will be deployed on international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. The frigates will also possess mine countermeasure capabilities, enhancing their versatility in various maritime security operations.