In a ceremony held at Mitsubishi’s Nagasaki shipyard, the JS Niyodo (FFM-7) officially entered service as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s seventh Mogami-class frigate. The commissioning was marked by a flag-raising and its assignment to Escort Division 12 in Hiroshima. It’s the first Mogami-class ship to feature the Mk 41 VLS, enhancing its rapid strike ability. Named after a local river, the Niyodo will support national defense by executing standalone missions or contributing to broader maritime security groups such as carrier strike forces.
