December 21, 2020: Japan has launched the first of twenty-two 30FFM multimission frigates. The first of these, the Kumano, will enter service in 2022 and will eventually replace some destroyers as well as existing frigates. The 5,500-ton 30FFM ships take the multimission angle seriously. They are equipped for mine hunting as well as mine laying. In addition to a 127mm gun, each ship carries eight anti-ship missiles, there are eleven SeaRAM anti-aircraft/missile missiles with a range of ten kilometers and 16 VLS cells that will eventually carry larger Chu-SAM anti-aircraft missiles with a range to 50 kilometers. Some VLS cells can also contain cruise missiles. There are twelve lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes. There is a ramp in the rear for launching and recovering UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vessels) USVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels) and RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) for boarding parties. A helicopter is also carried and that can be replaced by two or more UAVs.