Japan has secured a significant $6.5 billion defence deal with Australia to build next-generation warships, the Australian government announced on Tuesday.
Japan has secured a significant $6.5 billion defence deal with Australia to build next-generation warships, the Australian government announced on Tuesday.
In a meeting of the Australian government’s national security committee on 5 August, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) Mogami frigate was selected over German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ MEKO A-200.
According to the contract, MHI will provide the Royal Australian Navy with 12 advanced Mogami-class multi-role frigates, with the first one ready by 2029. Three more will be in the water by 2034. The remaining eight ships are expected to be constructed by Austal in Western Australia state.
Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani said "The benefits include enhanced joint operations and interoperability with both Australia and the United States” at a briefing in Tokyo.
Capabilities
The highly automated naval vessels are designed to hunt submarines, strike surface ships, provide air defences and can be operated by just 90 sailors - less than half the crew needed for the current vessels.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said that the upgraded version of Mogami-class frigate will be capable of launching long-range missiles and has a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, compared to Australia's current Anzac Class frigates, which can sail around 6,000 nautical miles.
Protecting trade routes
Australia said it plans to deploy the new ships to protect critical maritime trade routes along its northern approaches in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Japan has emphasized the frigate sale as a further step in its efforts to form security ties beyond its alliance with the U.S. It seeks to counter China’s expanding military power in Asia.
Previous nuclear submarine deals
The deal follows a previous rejection of Japan’s submarine bid in 2016 to Australia, when Canberra chose French submarines over Japan’s. However, that project was scrapped in 2023, opting instead to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain under the AUKUS pact - a trilateral security partnership between those three countries - announced in September 2021.
This will be Australia’s largest naval purchase since the signing of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement 5 August 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the...
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dolla...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Japan said on Tuesday it had lodged a diplomatic protest with China after Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire drills in waters Tokyo considers part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Japan's parliament has approved changes to the Imperial House Law aimed at addressing the shrinking size of the imperial family while preserving the country's centuries-old male-only succession system.
Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
North Korea condemned the United States and its allies on Saturday for what it called strengthening military blocs and accelerating arms buildups after a NATO summit this week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with General Mykhailo Drapatyi in one of the most significant military leadership changes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Southeast Asia remains the epicentre of scam centres running illegal online fraud schemes that target victims worldwide and generate billions of dollars annually. The UN estimates scam losses across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand reached up to $114.1 billion in 2025.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment