Japan unveils sixth Mogami-class frigate, Agano, in naval modernisation
Japan is modernising its navy at an impressive pace, known as the Maritime Self-Defence Forces, under its pacifist constitution. The flag was raised in Nagasaki on Agano, the sixth Mogami-class frigate. What are the characteristics of these ships?
The sixth Mogami-class frigate, Agano, was ceremoniously commissioned on 20 June at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki. The ship is named after a river in Fukushima Prefecture.
Agano is a representative of the Mogami class, also known as 30FF. The construction of a 12-unit series of these ships showcases Japan's industrial capabilities because, if the pace is maintained, the Japanese fleet will be reinforced with eight modern frigates within just six years, with more likely to be ordered soon.
Ships for a demographic crisis
The Mogami-type frigates are an example of modernity and the challenges faced by the Japanese armed forces. Tokyo must maintain extensive armed forces due to the pressure from China and the formally unresolved war with Russia (after World War II, only an armistice was signed instead of a peace treaty). A country struggling with demographic issues must design its weapons to require as little manpower as possible.
This also applies to the new frigates – while the Mogami-class ships have over 6,000 tonnes of displacement and are heavily armed, their crew, thanks to automation, has been reduced to just 90 people. For comparison, the older Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates operated by Poland, displacing nearly 4,500 tonnes, have a crew of over 200 people.
Mogami-class frigates - key features
The unique Advanced Integrated Combat Information Centre (AICIC) is a characteristic feature of Japanese ships. It is a circular room with screens on the walls. Thanks to these screens, the centre's crew can see the ship's surroundings enhanced with augmented reality elements, such as target or threat markers superimposed on the real image.
The Mogami-class ships are 133 metres long, have a deck width of 16 metres, and a full displacement reaching over 6,000 tonnes. The frigates can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h, and their armament consists of one 127 mm calibre gun, eight Type 17 anti-ship missile launchers, as well as torpedo launchers, SeaRAM anti-aircraft missile launchers, and a 16-cell, universal Mk 41 VLS launcher.
