Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Maritime Systems has delivered the 3,900 tonne Mogami-class destroyer, the JS Yubetsu, to the Japanese Ministry of Defence.
The handover was completed at the shipbuilder’s Tamano yard in Okayama.
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The event marked the delivery of the second vessel of its class from this location, with “Kumano” being the prior delivery.
The JS Yubetsu is the eighth Mogami-class vessel to join the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet.
The previously delivered ships under the class are JS Mogami, Kumano, Noshiro, Mikuma, Yahagi, Agano, and Niyodo.
The JS Yubetsu destroyer was contracted by the Ministry of Defense in fiscal year 2021. The ground-breaking was held on 30 August 2022.
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By GlobalDataThe ship was christened and launched in November 2023. It is named after Yubetsu River in Hokkaido.
In 2023, the company said that the ship was slated for handover in fiscal year 2024. At that time, the company was working on a comprehensive outfitting that encompassed hull work as well as installation and testing of engines, electrical systems, and armaments.
Measuring 133 metres (m) in length, 16.3m in width, and 9m depth, the destroyer can reach a maximum speed of approximately 30 knots.
It is powered by one gas turbine and two diesel engines and is equipped with advanced weapon systems, including a 5in 62 calibre gun, one SeaRAM, two SSM devices, an anti-submarine system, a mine countermeasure system, and a vertical launcher.
In June 2022, MHI launched the fifth Mogami-class multi-role frigate, named Yahagi.
Furthermore, the fourth frigate ‘Mikuma’ was launched in December 2021. The name ‘Mikuma’ is inspired by the Mikuma River in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.
In November 2024, the Australian Government downselected Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as finalists for its future general purpose frigates (GPF). Thyssenkrupp proposed the Meko A-200 design, while Mitsubishi offered the Mogami future frigate multirole (FFM) platform.
