Australia and Japan signed contracts Saturday for the first three of a planned 10 billion Australian dollar ($6.5 billion) fleet of Japanese-designed Mogami-class frigates, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2029. Defense Ministers Richard Marles of Australia and Shinjiro Koizumi of Japan sealed the agreement aboard the JS Kumano, a Mogami-class frigate docked in Melbourne, marking a major military-technology partnership as Japan accelerates regional defense expansion.
The deal signals Japan’s strengthening role as a Pacific defense partner, particularly as Tokyo expands military ties beyond its traditional alliance with the United States and Australia seeks to modernize an aging naval fleet increasingly vulnerable to missile and drone threats.
Building the Fleet
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three frigates in Japan, while Australia will construct an additional eight in a Western Australian shipyard. The vessels will be equipped with surface-to-air and anti-shipping missiles and carry crews of 92 sailors and officers.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles described the acquisition pace as unprecedented. “The timeframe that we’ve announced is the fastest acquisition of a surface combatant into service in the Royal Australian Navy ever, and so this is a very rapid timeframe,” Marles said.
Modernizing the Navy
The Mogami-class vessels will replace Australia’s aging ANZAC-class frigates, which defense officials have said are increasingly vulnerable to modern missile and drone attacks. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi noted that the Mogami design’s crew efficiency—approximately 90 personnel, roughly half the crew of current ANZAC-class ships—was a “decisive factor” in Australia’s selection.
Japan’s Expanding Defense Reach
Japan has been accelerating its military buildup and expanding defense partnerships beyond its traditional Washington-focused alliance. The frigate deal marks the country’s first major naval success in Australia after losing a submarine contract competition to France in 2016.
Marles highlighted the broader significance for Australia’s defense industry. “Japan is an industrial powerhouse and it offers so much opportunity for Australia and the development of our own defense industry as the Mogami project represents,” he said.
Australia announced a new defense strategy this week that includes an additional AU$53 billion in spending over the next decade. Koizumi said the agreement represents a major step in elevating bilateral defense cooperation.
The first frigate is scheduled to arrive in 2029.