Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has transferred the JS Niyodo (FFM-7), a new stealth frigate, to the Japanese Navy during a commissioning event at its Nagasaki facility. The ship is now part of Escort Division 12 at the Kure Naval Base. Bearing the name of a river in Kōchi and Ehime, the Niyodo represents a major upgrade as the first in its class to receive the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System. This system significantly improves the ship’s ability to respond rapidly to threats and take on high-risk missions both independently and within carrier strike groups.
