Unveiling high-tech destroyer, Japan seeks Australian buyer
The bridge of the destroyer Kumano is unveiled to the media on April 23 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Mizuki Sato)
As a key selling point, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's new destroyer Kumano can do more with less, at a time when naval personnel are being stretched to the limits.
The MSDF touted this capability as it unveiled the Kumano to the news media at its Yokosuka Naval Base on April 23.
Japan is hoping that its state-of-the-art Mogami-class frigate vessel, known as an FFM (Future Multi-mission Frigate), will find a place in the Royal Australian Navy fleet.
A look aboard shows a host of high-tech features that could be attractive to an Australian Navy looking to modernize its fleet.
21ST CENTURY ON THE SEAS
The interior of the Kumano differs substantially from conventional destroyers and is designed to minimize the number of crew members needed for operations.
Stations such as the fire control room, telegraph room and pilot room, which were previously located separately on the ship, are now integrated in the combat information center (CIC), and all information can be viewed on a 360-degree screen.
Crew members wear wristwatch-like biometric sensors to keep track of personnel positions.
Equipped with a navigation system with GPS functionality, the new destroyer eliminates the need for an assistant navigator to manually draw nautical charts.
Conventional destroyers require seven personnel on the bridge, but Kumano can be manned by four.
JAPAN BATTLING GERMANY FOR CONTRACT
Against the backdrop of the Kumano's unveiling is the Australian government announcement in February 2024 of a plan to introduce 11 new naval vessels to modernize the Royal Australian Navy.
In November, the Japanese government officially announced its plan to participate in the joint development of the Australian Navy's new vessels.
The Japanese government has proposed a more capable version of the MSDF's Mogami-class destroyer, by adding the performance capabilities required by Australia.
Australia plans to replace its aging frigates with 11 new vessels, which are expected to cost a total of A$11.1 billion (about 1 trillion yen, or $7 billion).
Three of the 11 vessels will be manufactured in the joint development countries first, and the rest will be built in Australia.
Australia has named two finalists for the project, Germany and Japan.
Australia will name the joint developer by the end of this fiscal year and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2029.
If the Japanese proposal is selected, it will be 'Japan's first large-scale equipment transfer project,' according to a senior Defense Ministry official.
For this reason, Japan has been making a major sales push.
U.S. HELP SOUGHT IN SALES PITCH
According to several ministry officials, the Japanese government has sought the cooperation of the United States in pushing for Japan's proposal to be accepted by Australia, and the U.S. side is said to be willing to do so.
At a Japan-U.S. defense ministerial meeting held at the end of March, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani asked U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to support the Japanese proposal.
Japan is seeking the cooperation of the U.S. side because the Japanese proposal is advantageous to its close ally in that it is 'easier to mount U.S.-made missiles,' according to a senior ministry official.
It is assumed that Tomahawk cruise missiles, ESSM ship-to-air missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles will be installed aboard.
However, it is believed that many in the Australian Navy support the German proposal, which has already been introduced and is considered less expensive.
REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL A HUGE PLUS
The main selling point of the FFM is the 'reduction in manpower' needed to operate the vessel.
The Kumano destroyer has a crew of about 90, about half that of conventional vessels.
The new FFM, which Japan hopes to jointly develop with Australia, can be operated with the same 90 crew members as the Kumano. That is about 30 fewer than the 120 crew members required on German naval vessels.
Driving the need for fewer personnel aboard is the manpower shortage in the MSDF, where long naval careers are shunned.
The SDF has suffered a recruitment shortfall of about 20,000 personnel in recent years.
The number of recruits for the SDF in fiscal 2023 dipped to a record low of 50.8 percent of the planned recruitment quota.
A senior Defense Ministry official said, 'Australia's navy is also understaffed."
The official said the 'reduction of manpower will be the greatest weapon in selling to Australia.'
(This article was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)
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