Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Offers Japan Its First Look at New FFM

For the first time, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has showcased a scale model of Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate, or New FFM (also known as 06FFM), a vessel class on order for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

While the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo calls the improved Mogami-class frigate the New FFM (an acronym for Future Multi-Mission Frigate), MHI has named it the “FMF-AAW,” an abbreviation for “Future Multi-mission Frigate – Anti-Air Warfare.”

Displayed at the DSEI Japan 2025 exhibition – the country’s largest-ever defense trade show, which was held in Chiba Prefecture adjoining Tokyo from May 21 to 23 – the model revealed the new design with great detail about the ship’s final configuration, including the positions of various missiles.

The Japanese Defense Ministry will finish construction of the Mogami class with a total of 12 ships, with subsequent plans to build the same number of New FFMs. The first two New FFMs are scheduled to be commissioned in fiscal year 2028, and if construction proceeds smoothly, all 12 New FFMs will be in service by FY2032.

At its booth at DSEI Japan, MHI unveiled the 1/100 scale model of the New FFM, with a length of about 1.4 meters. This is the first time the scale model has been exhibited in Japan, according to MHI.

The New FFM has a full load displacement of about 6,200 tons, a standard displacement of about 4,800 tons, a total length of about 142 meters, a total width of 17 meters, and a maximum speed of over 30 knots. In comparison, the Mogami class has a full load displacement of 5,500 tons, a standard displacement of 3,900 tons, a total length of 133 meters, a total width of 16 meters, and a maximum speed of over 30 knots.

At first glance, a few features stand out on the model. Most notably, compared to the existing Mogami-class vessels, the FMF-AAW, as the designation implies, focuses more on air defense – courtesy of 32 Mk.41 vertical launching system (VLS) cells installed on the deck in front of the bridge. In contrast, the Mogami class features a 16 cell-VLS suited primarily to self defense.

This means the number of Mk.41 VLS cells has been doubled from the Mogami class, taking advantage of the larger space created by the larger hull on the New FFM.

Similar to the Mogami class, the new frigate will feature a 5 inch-gun at the bow, two quadruple antiship missile-launchers amidships, and a SeaRAM Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) above the helicopter hangar.

In addition, the ship-launched, improved version of the Type 12 SSM and the new ship-to-air guided missile (or A-SAM) will be equipped on the New FFM, according to defense officials.

MHI’s model also shows the reuse of the UNICORN communication mast from the Mogami class in the New FFM.

UNICORN, which stands for “Unified Complex Radio Antenna,” is the NORA-50 integration mast currently equipped on top of the bridge of the Mogami-class frigates. It is a new type of composite communications antenna system for naval ships. Tokyo is now in the process of exporting UNICORN to India.

The model is of special interest because the JMSDF may not be the New FFM’s only purchaser. In an epoch-making move, last November the Australian government shortlisted Japan’s MHI and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) over Spanish and South Korean contenders to build the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)’s future general purpose frigates. MHI has pitched the New FFM to the Albanese government; TKMS has offered its MEKO A-200 design.

The Australian government is expected to select either MHI or TKMS later this year, with the contract scheduled to be signed by March of 2026. The first three ships will be built in either Japan or Germany, and the remaining eight will be constructed at a shipyard in Western Australia.

Will Australia strategically choose the upgraded Mogami-class frigate to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Japan in the face of the growing threat that China poses to the Indo-Pacific region?

Or will it opt for a German-designed frigate that is familiar to – and compatible with – the Royal Australian Navy, as the German MEKO A-200 design is a bigger and more modern version of the Australia’s existing Anzac-class?

Since Japanese defense officials view this bid not only as a “business proposal,” but as an “important strategic endeavor,” great attention is currently focused on the Australian government’s final decision.

A previous bidding process ended in disappointment when Australia selected France’s Shortfin Barracuda submarines, rather than Japan’s Soryu class, for the RAN’s Collins class submarine replacement project. The Australia-France deal was later scrapped entirely in favor of nuclear submarines under the AUKUS framework.