The JS Kumano is the second ship in the class, but it was the first to be delivered to the JMSDF, ahead of its lead ship, the future JS Mogami (FFM-1), which has been rescheduled to be delivered and commissioned with the JMSDF by April 2022.

It was assigned to the JMSDF's Mine Warfare Force, based at Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa.

The new Mogami-class frigates were designed with efficiency and automation in mind, with a more compact design for lower construction costs and a stealthy hull and superstructure design for reduced cross-section against radar detection.

It is 132.5 meters long, 16.3 meters wide, and has a crew of 90 officers and sailors.

The ship can reach speeds of more than 30 knots and is propelled by a Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) propulsion configuration consisting of two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine.

It is armed with two Japan Steel Works RCWS for 12.7mm machine guns, a BAE Systems Mk.45 Mod 4 127mm naval gun, a 16-cell Mk. 41 VLS, an 11-cell Raytheon SeaRAM CIWS, and two quadruple MHI Type 17 anti-ship missile launchers.

The Mogami-class destroyer escorts will be used to replace the JMSDF's ageing fleet of Abukuma-class destroyer escorts, which have been in service since the late 1980s.