Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has hosted a launching ceremony for the future JS Noshiro (FFM-3). JS Noshiro (FFM-3) is the third ship of the 30DX frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Her name comes from Noshiro River where located in Akita. The Noshiro River has supported tens of thousands people since ancient times. JS Noshiro was laid down on 15 July 2020 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki and launched on 22 June 2021. She will be expected to be commissioned in December 2023.
The Mogami-class frigate (also known as 30FFM, 30FF, 30DX, or 30DEX) is a Japanese stealthy multi-mission frigate in development for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). In August 2017, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) selected MHI and Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding as the prime contractor and subcontractor to construct the frigate. The new ship is set to replace the Asagiri-class destroyers and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts. A total of twenty-two units to this design are planned by 2032.
Weapons include a Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun, two remote weapon stations above the bridge, 16 Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) at the bow, 8 Type 12 anti-ship missiles, one SeaRAM, an SH-60L helicopter, torpedoes, and decoy launchers. It can also deploy and recover unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), unmanned surface vehicles (USV), and sea mines from the rear ramp beneath the helideck. It is also expected to use a naval version of the Type 03 Chū-SAM Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile.
The original design to be used was the 30FF model. The ship’s design looked similar to the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship with an integrated mast. The stealthy design of both models is based on the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin. The length of the vessel was 120 metres (393 ft 8 in), with a max beam of 18 metres (59 ft 1 in), and a displacement of about 3,000 metric tons (3,000 long tons). The design had a planned maximum speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and accommodated a crew of about 100. The frigates will be powered by a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine.
