Investing.com — Australia has finalized a contract to purchase the first three of 11 advanced warships from Japan, a major defense agreement aimed at strengthening the Royal Australian Navy while signaling a shift in Tokyo’s role as a global military exporter.
Strategic fleet modernization
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi formalized the deal during a signing ceremony in Melbourne on Saturday. The contract, valued between A$15 billion ($10.8 billion) and A$20 billion, centers on the delivery of upgraded Mogami-class stealth frigates.
« Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades, » Marles said during the event. « These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet. »
The first three vessels are slated to be built in Japan, with the initial delivery expected by 2029. The Australian government plans for the remaining eight ships to be constructed domestically in Western Australia, marking a significant commitment to local industrial capacity alongside the international partnership.
A breakthrough for Japan’s defense sector
has been named the lead contractor for the project. The frigates, specifically optimized for air defense and undersea warfare, are set to replace Australia’s aging Anzac-class warships.
For Japan, the deal represents a significant milestone; it is only the second major defense export contract the country has secured since World War II.
The selection of MHI, which bested rival bids from Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems last year, serves as a vote of confidence in Japanese engineering and underscores Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s broader strategy to expand the nation’s footprint in the global defense market.
As geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific remain high, this partnership underscores a deepening military and industrial integration between Canberra and Tokyo, aimed at ensuring maritime security in a volatile region.
Source:
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