In a previous post on this thread, I mentioned that the existing Mogami radar is X band which is suitable for short to medium range and it doesn’t have any long range search capability. Models & drawings of the upgraded version indicate that a different radar configuration will be fitted which will hopefully fix this shortcoming.
Japanese builder MHI redesignates the Mogami FFG successor as "Upgraded Mogami", seemingly positioning the design for Australian contract.
www.navalnews.com
Seems to indicate that people are at least looking at this, in some sort of design capacity.
I don't think either the Japanese nor the Koreans want to foist on Australia anything that Australia isn't happy with. However, both classes, are built in reasonable volume overseas, and in some cases, the RAN may want to adopt some of these different systems.
Long range also makes a lot of sense, Mogami was originally going to be a light short range ship, almost LCS like, because that is what the Japanese envisaged and were sort of replacing. The design has grown into a much more generic light frigate capability.
From the story
@Going Boeing boeing linked earlier:
- The antennas for Link 16, which is a military tactical data link network used by NATO members and other Western nations.
- TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation System) is an antenna that provides information about the ship’s direction and distance to ship-based helicopters.
- Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) antennas
- ESM (Electronic Support Measures) for radar, or ES-R, which detects radio waves emitted by the seeker of an incoming anti-ship missile.
- ESM for communication, or ES-C, which is used to intercept radio communications. It is believed to be the same function as C-ESM used by European navies.
- UHF/VHF transmitting/receiving antenna, which is an antenna for UHF/VHF wireless communication, is used for short-distance communication.
- ORQ-2B-4 Offshore Wireless Router, which is Wi-Fi bands that provide a means of sharing information when sonar performs bistatic and multi-static detection
So many of these functions make this platform seem like it would be good for controlling drones and UAVs. It has many elements so there may be some work on making able to control many such entities. They did a lot of work on ensuring systems didn't negatively affect each other and had excellent placement for range. The situational awareness and sensor fusion is apparently top notch, and may be why Airforce and Army were given sea rides, to show them what that looks like from a Japanese perspective, and may influence other projects. Airforce has air drones. Army perhaps a land or amphibious drone capability.
So yeh, put that together with Ghost shark, and other similar platforms, seems like a real reason to have them, not just "cheap up gunned OPV ships". These seem like well place for the future. With a supporting partner nation, building a large fleet, and looking at similar enabling capabilities, jointly developed with Australia.
Maybe under JAUKUS, should Japan ever join the technology alliance?
Well I think Japan is already there. They have plenty of defence agreements and defence projects with the US, UK and hopefully AU. Korea's Austal move was interesting, because the Americans poo-poo that on security grounds. Which is vauge. Im not sure Japan will have exactly the same issues, they have existing very tight programs with the US like SM-3 etc.
In the future can I see the US being interested in Mogami flight II? Sure. Can I see the US and Australia being interested in the Japanese-UK 6th gen fighter, sure.