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Australia and Japan have sealed a major naval deal on April 18, signing contracts for the first three of 11 advanced Mogami-class frigates in a programme valued at about AU$10 billion (US$7.4 billion), marking a significant step in deepening defence ties in the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement, finalised after wide-ranging talks between the two defence ministers, will see Mitsubishi Heavy Industries build the first batch of stealth warships. The Japanese design was selected in August last year over a competing bid from Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the MEKO A-200 platform.
The Mogami-class frigates represent a substantial upgrade in capability. The Australian variant will be larger, around 6,200 tonnes, compared to the original 5,200-tonne design, and will be fitted with a 32-cell vertical launch system, doubling Japan’s current missile capacity. The system allows rapid, multi-directional firing of anti-air, anti-submarine and surface-to-surface missiles, significantly enhancing combat flexibility.
With a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and speeds of about 30 knots, the ships are designed for long-range operations across the Indo-Pacific. Canberra’s new version will include enhanced sensors and radar systems designed for advanced warfare, as it replaces the ageing ANZAC-class fleet. Each ship will be equipped to operate the Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and will be manned by approximately 92 crew members.
Under the industrial arrangement, the first three frigates will be constructed in Japan, while the remaining eight will be built in Western Australia by Austal. The lead ship is expected to be delivered in 2029 and enter service the following year.
The deal comes against the backdrop of growing strategic alignment between Canberra and Tokyo, both key US allies and members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). Analysts say the collaboration will boost interoperability and strengthen deterrence amid rising tensions in the region.
A previous assessment by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies noted that such cooperation would enhance Australia’s naval capability, reinforce supply chains and shipbuilding capacity between the two countries, and reinforce deterrence against China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The acquisition is central to the Albanese government’s plan to expand the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet. Under the 2026 Integrated Investment Program, Canberra has committed up to $20 billion over the next decade for general-purpose frigates, part of a broader effort to secure maritime trade routes and northern approaches.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the fleet expansion was critical at a time of heightened uncertainty, while Japan’s Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro underscored the need for closer coordination in what he described as an increasingly severe security environment.
In a joint statement, both sides flagged concerns over developments in the East and South China Seas, reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based regional order.
Team BharatShakti
