JS Natori

This article is about the frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. For the Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser, see Japanese cruiser Natori.

Natori (なとり) is a frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF),^[4] and the ninth ship of the Mogami class.^[2][1][3] She is named after the Natori River, which flows through the cities of Natori and Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture,^[4][1] and the second ship to be named this way, after the Imperial Japanese Navy's Nagara-class cruiser Natori,^[1] as well as the first in the JMSDF era.^[4]

Launch ceremony of the Natori
History
Japan
Name	Natori
Namesake	Natori River
Builder	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki
Cost	Approximately 54.1 billion yen[1]
Laid down	6 July 2023
Launched	24 June 2024[2][1]
Commissioned	December 2025 (scheduled)[3]
Identification	Pennant number: FFM-9[1]
Status	Fitting out[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Mogami-class frigate
Displacement	3,900 t (3,800 long tons; 4,300 short tons)[1] (standard) 5,500 t (5,400 long tons; 6,100 short tons) (full load)[2][3]
Length	132.5 m (434 ft 9 in)
Beam	16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)[1]
Draft	9 m (29 ft 6 in)[1]
Propulsion	CODAG[1] 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine[1] 2 × MAN Diesel V28/33DD STC engine[1]
Speed	more than 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)[1]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × RHIB, UUV,[1] USV[1]
Crew	around 90[1]
Sensors and processing systems	OPY-2 (X-band multi-purpose AESA radar)[1] OAX-3(EO/IR)[1] OQQ-25 (VDS + TASS)[1] OQQ-11 (Mine-hunting sonar)[1] OYQ-1 (Combat management system) OYX-1-29 (Console display system)
Electronic warfare & decoys	NOLQ-3E (Passive radar system + Electronic attack capability is integrated into the main radar antenna), Chaff dispenser
Armament	1 × 5 in (127 mm) Mk-45 Mod 4 naval gun 2 × missile canisters for a total of 8 Type 17 anti-ship missiles[1] 1 × SeaRAM[1] Type 12 torpedoes[3] Simplified mine laying equipment[1] 2 × Mk-41 VLS (16 cells total)[1] Naval version of Type 03 Chū-SAM 2 × Remote weapon station[3]

History

Natori was ordered in March 2023^[1] by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as part of the JMSDF's Mid-Term Defense Program and was laid down at the MHI Nagasaki Shipyard on 6 July 2023. She was christened and launched on 24 June 2024^[2][1] and is scheduled to be commissioned in 2025 after a period of fitting out and subsequent sea trials.^[5]