Mogami-class Frigate Leads JMSDF’s First-Ever Mine Disposal Drill Using USV

On June 15, 2025, the Japan Maritime Protection Pressure (JMSDF) frigate Mogami (FFM) performed its initial mine disposal training utilizing an unmanned surface area car (USV) off the coastline of Iwo-To Island in the Pacific Sea.

The Mogami-class FFM— where “FF” represents frigate and “M” represents mines and multi-purpose ability– is developed not just for seaside protection however likewise for mine disposal in superficial waters, a goal commonly designated to medium-sized minesweepers (Mine Sweeper Coastal: MSC). As the Mogami-class is constructed with a steel hull, it is naturally extra at risk to magnetic impact mines. To resolve this, the ships are furnished with a series of unmanned systems that make it possible for mine discovery and disposal from a risk-free stand-off range.

Mine discovery is accomplished utilizing the hull-mounted mine war finder system OQQ-11 and the OZZ-5 unmanned undersea car (UUV). The OZZ-5 is an independent UUV created by the previous Technical R & d Institute (TRDI), currently incorporated right into the Procurement, Modern Technology & Logistics Company (ATLA), and produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It is furnished with both a high-frequency artificial aperture finder (HFSAS) created by France’s Thales and a low-frequency artificial aperture finder (LFSAS) created by Japan’s NEC, making it possible for discovery of hard targets such as lower and hidden mines. The UUV runs along a pre-set course, and after healing aboard the FFM, its finder information is examined onboard to figure out the existence of mines.

In 2021, a bilateral research and prototyping project was launched between the Japanese and French defense authorities to establish next-generation mine discovery innovations. The job intends not just to enhance the discovery precision of the OZZ-5 however likewise to make it possible for real-time onboard evaluation of finder information by the UUV itself, getting rid of the requirement for shipboard information handling.

For mine disposal, the JMSDF employs a USV manufactured by Japan Marine United (JMU), which is released and recuperated from the strict of the FFM. The USV is furnished with expendable mine disposal (EMD) bills installed at the strict, enabling it to from another location detonate recognized mines.

Future JMSDF Mine War Stance

Japan is putting boosted focus on reinforcing and improving its mine war capacities, specifically to prepare for a possible armed problem with China in a Taiwan backup. The JMSDF is slowly retiring its aging wooden-hulled Sugashima-class MSCs and strategies to move their mine disposal goals to the Mogami-class FFMs. For shallow-water mine disposal, the JMSDF will rely upon a mix of Mogami-class FFMs, in addition to the wooden-hulled Hirashima-class and GFRP-built Enoshima-class MSCs. Deep-water mine disposal will certainly be managed by the Awaji-class Mine Sweepers Sea (MSO), which have actually been going into solution considering that 2017.

The business framework of JMSDF mine war devices is likewise going through considerable reform. Previously, JMSDF minesweepers have actually been designated to 2 different commands: the Mine War Pressure under the Self-defense Fleet, and the Minesweeper Divisions under local Area Commands. Nonetheless, under the FY2025 protection spending plan, this system is being reorganized as component of a more comprehensive change of JMSDF surface area pressures. Progressing, all JMSDF surface area fighters will certainly be combined under a brand-new “Surface area Fleet.” Minesweepers will certainly be focused under a secondary development within this fleet, referred to as the Amphibious Mine War Team, boosting the JMSDF’s merged mine disposal ability.

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