Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has officially delivered the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) seventh Mogami-class frigate, named JS Niyodo (FFM-7). The vessel was simultaneously commissioned during a formal ceremony in Nagasaki, which included a flag-raising to mark its induction into Escort Division 12 at Kure Naval Base. Named after a river in Shikoku, the JS Niyodo becomes the first of its class to feature the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). This advanced system boosts the frigate’s responsiveness to air and maritime threats, allowing it to operate independently or as part of larger naval task forces.
