The Royal Australian Navy has selected the Japanese Upgraded Mogami Class Frigate, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), as the platform for the future fleet of General Purpose Frigates (GPF).
The GPFs will replace the current in-service Anzac Class Frigates, and be equipped to:
- operate a Maritime Combat Helicopter
- operate a towed array sonar and lightweight torpedos for Undersea Warfare (USW)
- provide limited air defence
- provide maritime and land strike
- provide force protection
The first three frigates will be built in Japan by MHI, and can be delivered to the RAN quickly. Subject to the right conditions, the remaining frigates will be Australian built at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia.
The GPF is larger and more lethal than the current Anzac Class Frigates, yet will have a lower crewing requirement through the use of technology and automation. The first three vessels will be operational by 2034, with the first GPF being delivered to the RAN at the end of 2029.
Specifications:
- Type: Upgraded Mogami Class Frigate 06FFM
- Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Roles: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), air defence, land and maritime strike, force protection
- Standard Displacement: 4,800 tonnes
- Length: 142 metres
- Beam: 17 metres
- Propulsion: Combined Diesel and Gas
- Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
- Weapons: 32 cell Vertical Launch System (VLS), Surface to Air Missiles (SAM), Anti-Ship Missiles (ASM), 1 x 5” Main Gun, 1 x SEARAM (short-range point defence system)
- Sensors: Towed Array Sonar System (TASS), Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), advanced Tactical Data Link (TDL) system
- Aircraft: 1 x MH-60R Maritime Combat Helicopter
- Ship’s Company: Approx 92, with accommodation for up to 127