Australia will upgrade its naval force with 11 Mogami-class frigates, built by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the contract valued at $10 billion Australian dollars ($6.5bn).
Marles emphasized the importance of this agreement as the largest defense-industry agreement ever between Japan and Australia.
Mogami-class warships are stealth frigates with long-range missile capabilities and an operational range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, surpassing the range of Australia’s current Anzac-class frigates of approximately 6,000 nautical miles.
The new ships will have smaller crews and are expected to be in service by 2030.
“It is a next-generation vessel. It is stealthy,” Marles stated, highlighting its significance in enhancing the navy’s projection capabilities and the strategic relationship between Australia and Japan.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy mentioned that the upgrade will significantly increase the number of air defense missiles available to sailors, from 32 to 128.
The contract for the frigates represents Japan’s most significant defense deal since lifting a ban on military exports in 2014, with three ships to be built in Japan and the remaining eight expected to be built in Australia.
Japanese Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani praised the agreement as a major step forward in Japan’s defense cooperation efforts, emphasizing its significance for enhanced joint operations and interoperability with Australia and the United States.
Negotiations for the contract are set to begin this year, with an expected signing in 2026.
Australia is currently undergoing a major military restructuring to strengthen its long-range capabilities, aiming to expand its fleet of major warships from 11 to 26 over the next decade.
