Japan commissions new stealth warship into service

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commissioned its newest stealth frigate into service in a ceremony in Nagasaki on Tuesday, May 21.

JS Yahagi is the fifth frigate to be built under the Mogami-class. Construction of the vessel took place at the Nagasaki facilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The Mogami-class frigates were developed in response to the JMSDF’s need for multi-role surface combatants to replace the Asagiri-class destroyers and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts that were originally designed in the 1980s. The newer frigates also needed to possess nearly similar capabilities as the Akizuki-class destroyers but with smaller crew complements and fewer missile launchers.

Like its sisters, Yahagi measures 130 by 16 metres and displaces approximately 5,500 tonnes at full load. Power is provided by a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine and two MAN V28/33DD STC diesel engines in a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) arrangement to deliver speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Armament includes a BAE Systems 127mm naval gun, Mitsubishi Type 17 anti-ship missiles, Raytheon RIM-116 and Type 03 surface-to-air missiles, Mitsubishi Type 12 torpedoes, machine guns on remote weapon stations, and mines.