Taiwan eyes Japan’s New FFM as frigate option

According to media reports in Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC) Navy is reportedly considering Japan’s New FFM (also known as Upgraded Mogami-class or 06FFM) design as a possible frigate candidate.

On April 15, 2026, UP MEDIA quoted an anonymous source, saying that because Taiwan and Japan are deepening security cooperation, Japan has lifted its restriction exporting its warship blueprints to Taiwan.

Later on April 17, LTN reported that an influential figure who is familiar with Taiwan-Japan relations has asked Japan if it is possible for Taiwan and Japan to cooperate on developing warships? Or will Japan provide the blueprints of its new, advanced war ships to Taiwan as the base of Taiwan’s next generation combatant in the form of joint development by Taiwan and Japan? Japan did not oppose.

According to UP MEDIA, the Taiwanese navy (ROC Navy) has assessed how a Japanese warship fits its requirement of the 6000-ton next generation combatant. ROC Navy is considering purchasing a foreign design to accelerate the construction of its next generation combatant, and is particularly focused on Japan’s New FFM (aka Upgraded Mogami-class).

The anonymous source which UP MEDIA quoted also points out that Network-Centric Warfare and automation are the basic concepts of Taiwanese navy’s next generation combatant, and said that a 100-people crew will be ideal. Therefore the around 10,000-ton Japanese Aegis destroyers, such as Kongo-class, Atago-class and Maya-class are off the table.

Modern Japanese destroyers such as Akizuki-class and Asahi-class fit the displacement and capability requirements of the 6,000-ton next generation combatant of ROC Navy, but the New FFM have better stealth and automation performance.

According to UP MEDIA, Japan’s New FFM fits the  requirement of its next generation combatant best. Because New FFM’s system functions, such as combat management system, capability to operate unmanned vehicles, are automated, and there is interoperability between the New FFM’s systems and active weapon systems of U.S. forces. In addition, Japan is exporting the New FFM to its allies, such as Australia. The New FFM fits the Multi-mission requirement,  its automation also relieves the workload of the crew, enhancing operational efficiency.

But UP MEDIA also reported that even if Taiwan successfully secured the New FFM’s platform blueprints and combat management system transfer from Japan, Taiwan’s new frigate will still be fitted mostly with domestic weapon systems developed by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST), the main developer of Taiwan’s weapon systems.

Yoshihiro Inaba, a regular Japan-based contributor to Naval News explained “The Government of Japan has decided to lift restrictions on the export of defense equipment in order to strengthen its defense industrial base and help shape a favorable security environment. As a general matter, this policy shift will make it easier to export platforms such as the FFM (Mogami-class frigate).”

“However, with regard to Taiwan, Japan does not formally recognize it as a sovereign state and maintains no official diplomatic relations. While it is often suggested that a certain degree of defense cooperation exists at a non-public level, the export of a major surface combatant such as an FFM—an overt and unmistakable form of defense cooperation—would significantly damage Japan–China relations. Therefore, regardless of the strong support the current Sanae Takaichi administration enjoys from conservative constituencies, the export of FFM vessels to Taiwan would likely be extremely difficult.” Inaba added.

Taiwan’s Next Generation Frigate Program

Taiwan’s navy has been planning its next generation 4,500-ton class frigate to replace its aging Hazard Perry class based Cheng Kung-class frigate and La Fayette-class based Kang Ding-class frigates since 2016. But the program hit a roadblock in 2022, because the ROC Navy changed its request, asking for an ASEA radar system. However, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST) were able to develop a PESA radar system. The program once ended in the development of two light frigates, one of them dedicated to AAW and the other dedicated to ASW in 2022. But the program to develop a large surface combatant was later revived in 2024. Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has confirmed that the program is revived and revealed that the displacement of the next generation frigate will be around 6,500 tons.