The Japanese Navy will soon receive the $318 million frigate JS Niyodo with the Mk 41 vertical launch system for Type 07 anti-ship missiles

Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force is about to get a new ship. The JS Niyodo class Mogami frigate JS Niyodo was recently launched at a ceremony in Nagasaki.

Here's What We Know

The ship is named after the river of the same name on the island of Shikoku. It became the seventh frigate of Mogami class. The construction was carried out by the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The cost was $318.

The main feature of the new ship is the presence of vertical launch systems Mk 41. This is something none of the six previous Mogami class frigates can boast of. The 16 cells are designed to launch Type 07 anti-ship missiles.

JS Niyodo is equipped with a propulsion system consisting of a single MT30 turbine manufactured by Rolls-Royce. It has a power output of more than 40 MW. The turbine allows the frigate to reach speeds of more than 50 kilometres per hour.

For submarine detection, JS Niyodo is equipped with two sonars - QQS-11 and QQR-25. The first one is installed in the hull bottom and the second one is located in the aft part. An unmanned system QZZ-5 is provided for mine clearance.

Just over a year has passed between the start of construction and the launch. If all goes according to plan, JS Niyodo will be inducted into the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force fleet as early as December next year.

Source: JMSDF, Naval News