Evaluating possible options for the renewal of its surface fleet, officials from the Royal New Zealand Navy have expressed interest in assessing a potential proposal from Japan for new Mogami-class stealth frigates. The development took place during a recent bilateral meeting between the Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, and Japan’s Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani. According to reports, discussions focused on the possibility that New Zealand could consider the improved version of the Japanese frigates, designated as “FFM,” which feature advances in sensors, combat systems, and stealth capabilities compared to the initial vessels of the class—similar to the approach taken by the Royal Australian Navy.
The recent rapprochement between Wellington and Tokyo is not coincidental; it occurs in a regional context marked by the growing naval activity of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) across the Indo-Pacific. During the meeting, Rear Admiral Golding emphasized his country’s intention to deepen defense cooperation with Japan, describing it as “a key strategic partner with whom to strengthen interoperability and joint training.”
At present, the Royal New Zealand Navy operates two ANZAC-class frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, which entered service in the 1990s and have been modernized in recent years. However, the Ministry of Defense is now evaluating the acquisition of a new generation of vessels to replace these units within the next decade, as part of a broader surface fleet recapitalization plan.
Based on this framework, the new vessels are expected to meet specific requirements, including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and long-range maritime surveillance capabilities, with an emphasis on interoperability with Indo-Pacific allied forces. In this context, the Japanese proposal appears as a viable option thanks to its modular profile, high degree of automation, and a design that provides a low radar cross-section, enabling stealth operations in contested maritime environments.
Australia’s selection of the Mogami class
New Zealand’s possible consideration of the Mogami class is also linked to current plans undertaken by Australia, which in early August selected the upgraded version of the class as its next generation of frigates. Canberra plans to acquire a total of eleven ships, with the first three to be built in Japan—scheduled for delivery starting in 2029—and the remaining eight to be constructed at the local Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
Given these precedents, and taking into account the ANZUS Security Treaty signed in 1951 between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, the alignment of interests that could converge on a common next-generation naval platform—echoing the past cooperation seen with the ANZAC class—comes as no surprise. A potential New Zealand selection of the stealth frigates would further strengthen regional maritime defense interoperability and cooperation, while consolidating Japan’s growing role as a strategic supplier in the Pacific.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
You may also like: Japan closely monitored the transit of a Chinese Navy Type 815 intelligence ship through the Ōsumi Strait
