The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has received its seventh Mogami-class stealth frigate, the JS Niyodo, during a transfer and commissioning ceremony in Nagasaki by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The vessel, named after the Niyodo River in Shikoku, was assigned to the Kure Naval Base’s Escort Division 12. What sets this ship apart is the addition of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System, a feature that boosts its multi-domain operational versatility. The system allows for swift missile engagements, improving Japan’s maritime defense both independently and in joint operations.
