Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate wins New Zealand interest after Australian deal.

Japan and New Zealand held defense talks in Tokyo to examine the upgraded Mogami-class frigate as part of New Zealand’s surface fleet renewal plan.

According to Kyodo News on October 20, 2025, Japan and New Zealand held high-level defense talks in Tokyo to examine the upgraded Mogami-class frigate as part of New Zealand’s surface fleet renewal plan. Discussions between Royal New Zealand Navy Chief Rear Admiral Garin Golding and Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani centered on technical specifications, production options, and potential cooperation with Japan’s shipbuilders. Following Australia’s recent decision to adopt a similar design, the exchange reportedly placed the New FFM design among the primary candidates for New Zealand’s next frigate program.
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Japan’s Mogami-class frigate was developed to replace the older Asagiri- and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts with a new multi-mission ship combining automation, reduced manpower, and stealth characteristics. (Picture source: Japanese Navy)

According to the Japanese media, New Zealand has expressed concrete interest in Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate following a meeting in Tokyo held on October 20, 2025, between Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Chief Rear Admiral Garin Golding and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation and evaluating potential warship options for the RNZN’s future fleet. The upgraded Mogami, known as the New FFM configuration, emerged as the centerpiece of discussion, aligning with New Zealand’s stated objective to replace its two Anzac-class frigates by the mid-2030s. Although no acquisition contract or memorandum was announced, both officials acknowledged the strategic rationale for joint development and operation of advanced naval platforms among Pacific partners. This meeting effectively placed the New FFM among the leading contenders for New Zealand’s next-generation frigate program.

Australia provides a significant reference point for New Zealand, having officially selected Japan’s enlarged Mogami derivative as the basis for its General Purpose Frigate (GPF) program on August 5, 2025. As previously reported by Army Recognition, the Australian government’s plan includes the construction of eleven vessels, with the first three to be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Japan and delivered between 2029 and 2030 before local production transitions to Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. The Australian model establishes a dual-site production approach, ensuring immediate delivery while developing domestic assembly capacity. Canberra’s decision positions the Japanese design as a regional benchmark for modular and cost-effective multi-mission frigates. The program also creates opportunities for neighboring allies to align their procurement schedules, training doctrines, and maintenance frameworks to achieve greater operational commonality. For New Zealand, observing the structure and logistics of Australia’s project provides insight into cost management, industrial participation, and long-term sustainment options for a potential acquisition of similar vessels.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) currently fields a small fleet consisting primarily of two Anzac-class frigates (the HMNZS Te Kaha and the HMNZS Te Mana), two Protector-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Wellington, and the multi-role sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury. The Anzac-class frigates, commissioned in the late 1990s, underwent extensive combat system upgrades to extend their service life into the mid-2030s, including improvements to radar, communications, and electronic warfare systems. However, the increasing maintenance burden and technological obsolescence are pressing factors motivating replacement planning. The OPVs are tasked with border surveillance, resource protection, and regional humanitarian support, though their limited speed and endurance constrain their operational flexibility in distant waters. HMNZS Canterbury remains central to sealift and disaster relief operations, transporting troops and vehicles throughout the Pacific region. The combination of these assets provides balanced but finite coverage for New Zealand’s maritime responsibilities, which extend across one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Personnel availability continues to be a critical limiting factor for the RNZN. As of 2024, official reports indicated more than 600 vacant positions across the naval service, affecting vessel availability and operational tempo. These shortages have prompted adjustments to sailing schedules, crew rotations, and overall readiness levels. Therefore, the New Zealand government’s new defense capability plan projects that both Anzac-class frigates and the two OPVs will need to be replaced or significantly modernized within the next decade. Preliminary estimates suggest a replacement cost in the range of several billion New Zealand dollars, depending on configuration and domestic industry participation. Aligning procurement with Australia’s Mogami-based production line could reduce overall costs through shared components, simulators, and maintenance facilities. Such alignment would also enable coordinated training and joint logistics support within ANZAC and QUAD-aligned exercises, ensuring interoperability while minimizing redundant investments. These practical considerations frame the Mogami as a strategically compatible and economically viable candidate for New Zealand’s future surface fleet.

The Mogami-class frigate was developed to replace the aging Asagiri- and Abukuma-class destroyer escorts with a new multi-mission ship emphasizing automation, reduced manpower, and stealth characteristics. Built primarily by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, the Mogami-class features a hull length of approximately 133 meters, a full-load displacement near 5,500 tons, and a core crew complement of about 90 personnel. It employs a Combined Diesel And Gas (CODAG) propulsion system, allowing speeds above 30 knots and an operational range exceeding 9,000 kilometers. The class integrates a next-generation Combat Information Center (CIC) with a 360-degree panoramic display unifying navigation, engineering, and tactical systems, improving situational awareness while minimizing crew requirements. Each ship can operate an SH-60K helicopter for anti-submarine and reconnaissance missions, as well as Unmanned Surface and Underwater Vehicles (USVs/UUVs) for extended surveillance. Notably, the Mogami’s automation and modular architecture make it adaptable for diverse mission sets, from territorial defense to open-sea escort duties, just what New Zealand needs.

The weapon arsenal on the Mogami includes a 127 mm Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun, 16 Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells configured for surface-to-air and anti-submarine weapons, eight anti-ship missile launchers carrying Type 17 or Type 12 missiles, and two triple 324 mm torpedo tubes for lightweight torpedoes. The frigate's sensor suite incorporates a multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, variable depth sonar, and a towed array sonar system optimized for anti-submarine warfare, while the stealthy design and composite materials reduce radar cross-section, infrared, and acoustic signatures, enhancing survivability, further reinforced by an integrated combat system that enables rapid target tracking and cooperative engagement capabilities. This combination of automation, endurance, and multi-domain capability enables the Mogami to operate effectively in both high-intensity and constabulary roles, ensuring flexibility across Japan’s archipelagic defense environment. These same attributes appeal to smaller navies, such as New Zealand, seeking high-performance ships with lower manning requirements.

Selected by Australia, the upgraded Mogami, or New FFM, represents an evolution of the original design, incorporating an extended hull that measures approximately 142 meters with a beam of 17 meters, and an increased displacement of about 6,200 tons. Vertical launch capacity is doubled to 32 Mk 41 cells, accommodating long-range interceptors or strike missiles depending on export configurations. Sensor performance is improved through upgraded AESA arrays and an expanded electronic warfare suite, while the new CIC design integrates augmented-reality and AI-assisted decision support functions to streamline operations. The class retains high automation, aiming for a crew size below 100 even with expanded combat capability.

Endurance and seakeeping have been optimized for longer blue-water deployments, allowing for sustained operations across vast oceanic regions such as the Pacific...or large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Furthermore, the hull’s structural reinforcements and power reserves allow the future integration of directed-energy weapons, advanced radar systems, and next-generation unmanned systems, guaranteeing a long-term investment for New Zealand. Politically, closer defense cooperation with Japan supports Wellington’s commitment to a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” alongside Australia, the United States, and regional partners, which was demonstrated during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to JMSDF Yokosuka on June 18, 2024, during which he inspected the second Mogami-class vessel JS Kumano.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.