UK Defence Forum

Japan’s MHI Launches ‘Mogami’ 「もがみ」First-In-Class 30FFM Frigate For The JMSDF

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Nagasaki launched today "Mogami", the first-in-class 30FFM, a next generation frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

While another shipyard, Mitsui E & S Shipbuilding located in Okayama launched the second ship of the class, Kumano, back in November 2020, Mogami is the first ship of the 30FFM class. This is because Mitsui E&S received a subcontracting order from MHI (the main contractor) for the construction of the 3,900-ton frigate for the JMSDF.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... the-jmsdf/

And the video from our correspondent who was on site for the event

30FFM looks like the love child of a T26 and River class.

Well the launching ceremony is definitely more flamboyant than the usual breaking a bottle of Champagne on the bow.

Would be much tempted to put this one on our IR thread as it clearly sets out, how by taking 3 inf. coys and adding all-arms support to them you grow a Bn into a Rgmnt (not being the same thing in most parts of the world).

So two of their divisions and two brigades each house such a regiment for rapid deployment, the detail here:

I watched that video a few days ago and it is informative. There does appear to be some common ground between their ideas and ours, but as usual their have been far better thought through and resourced. They have also retained their Heavy Armoured and Mechanised formations, as well as having far fewer Capability Gaps.

Lord Jim wrote:I watched that video a few days ago and it is informative. There does appear to be some common ground between their ideas and ours, but as usual their have been far better thought through and resourced. They have also retained their Heavy Armoured and Mechanised formations, as well as having far fewer Capability Gaps.

They also have a very aggressive China , Russia and North Korea right on there door step. were HMG think we have the rest of Europe between us and Russia

Tempest414 wrote: HMG think we have the rest of Europe between us and Russia

A good point (to take back to the IR thread):
Is it going to be all about the Navy sailing into sunnier waters and Light Forces doing 'our bit' in Mali, Somalia and (?) Mozambique ?

Yep the UK is still clinging to the doctrine of "Fur coat and no.....". I wonder if some specialist advisor has convinces HMG that spin is a form of deterrence in its own right?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4 ... ft-carrier

USMC have conducted the first take-off/landing tests with F-35B on JS Izumo on October 3rd. Jets provided by VMFA-242, the "Green Knights". Izumo has received deck coating treatment.

https://twitter.com/jmsdf_pao_eng?ref_s ... ft-carrier

Work on Izumo to operate F-35B is due to complete in 2026 and Kaga will undergo the same changes.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:how by taking 3 inf. coys and adding all-arms support to them you grow a Bn into a Rgmnt (not being the same thing in most parts of the world).

Though it should go under the US Forces heading, I noted that the Littoral part of US Marines have also gone back to regiments, as the unit of account
- nothing to do with our regiments, which just keep ploughing on (for other reasons)

BAE Systems Eager To Share Aircraft Carrier Know-How With Japan

On October 12, 2021, BAE Systems held a press conference for the Japanese media, where they announced the establishment of a local corporation in Japan. The establishment of this corporation is expected to take place by the end of this year or early next year. The press conference focused for the most part on the company's role in the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers program and the integration of F-35 on the aircraft carriers...

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -carriers/

Potiential a significant development

Now that's really going to wind up France lol

I wonder if India's backsliding and fencesitting on Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in US placing less trust and emphasis on the Quad Alliance as a counter to China in the Indo-Pacific?

If so a beefed up AUKUS might be an alternative to the Quad. Recently UK has started to work together with Japanese on missiles and Tempest engine (not to mention South Korea). An alliance or partnership between AUKUS and Japan could be ineresting.

wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑12 Apr 2022, 23:41 I wonder if India's backsliding and fencesitting on Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in US placing less trust and emphasis on the Quad Alliance as a counter to China in the Indo-Pacific?

India's positioning has been less than ideal - and it brings into question her utility against China quite substantially.

The west has spent close to 3 Decades building up India economically by moving good paying middle class IT jobs to India so that she can become a military counterweight China by having a strong enough economy. India has just pocketed the money..

Will be interesting to see how India and the west manage this relationship going forward..

Though we may not like India's stance visa Russia/Ukraine India is too important to ignore in the context of future possible conflict with China, only on Monday India and US signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement

Would say India's growth over the last few decades due to their own polices not the West. A engineering friend of mine who has worked internationally says the Indian engineers some of the best and its beginning to show in their military hardware, eg BrahMos with a factory capable of manufacturing 100 a year, the future hypersonic BrahMos II in development, demonstrated its ability with their A-SAT to take out satellites, in 2018 we used Indian rockets to launch two SSTL satellites.

This month on the 8th a second successful test was carried out of its Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) to develop critical technologies for a future long range air-to-air missile (faster SM-6 equivalent?) and on 10th its hydrogen powered scramjet technology demonstrator was successfully flight tested.

UK has none of these capabilities due to lack of funding from MoD.

BrahMos was developed with considerable Russian help and uses a Russian weapon as its baseline. It is a good weapon though, world class in fact, and the next generation hypersonic version will give it a real edge in naval warfare. India though has major problem trying to develop weapon systems and other complicated system on its own, with most projects taking far longer than planned as well as being over budget, and some never actually work. They are able to produce licenced products though, and this is what they have fallen back on for most large procurement programmes.

India is already in a conflict with China on its north western border, though on a strictly limited scale as neither side wants to expand things. As a result India will be a a fairly good counter point to China but do not think this will affect the resources China is willing to deploy and use in the South China Sea.

When like myself had always thought that the most beautiful ships were the Marina Militare (Italian Navy ) FREMM class of frigate but the Japanese Naval architect sead wait and see.
Look at the photo bellow.

I think this will be an interesting movie to be shared. Very similar system to Babcock - Palfinger marine's "slipway and stern entry systems".

I have to wonder how fast a vessel could be embarked/disembarked if needed and at what speed a ship can travel whilst conducting such an operation?

wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑12 Apr 2022, 23:41 I wonder if India's backsliding and fencesitting on Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in US placing less trust and emphasis on the Quad Alliance as a counter to China in the Indo-Pacific?

Two Quads better than just one, esp. as

Lord Jim wrote: ↑14 Apr 2022, 04:52 India is already in a conflict with China on its north western border, though on a strictly limited scale as neither side wants to expand things. As a result India will be a a fairly good counter point to China but do not think this will affect the resources China is willing to deploy and use in the South China Sea.

Just from this photo whe can observe were the things would go in the future in warship design.

Interesting YouTube video from Xavier:

Just to share...