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.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission...
Flights from Shiraz's main airport have been cancelled until 20:00 local time, according to Iranian media, as Iran and Israel continue exchanging stri...
Kazakhstan will require major businesses to introduce five-year water-saving plans as authorities warn that worsening shortages could threaten not onl...
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 32 people and triggering tsunami war...
A French Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia on Monday (8 June), triggering security alerts and renewing co...
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
A French Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia on Monday (8 June), triggering security alerts and renewing concerns about the impact of the war in Ukraine on NATO's eastern flank.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday (8 June) for a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, receiving a grand welcome as he described relations between the two countries as being at a "new historical starting point".
Football fans of all ages gathered in Miami Beach for a World Cup sticker trading event, exchanging duplicates and comparing Panini albums as they prepared for the tournament's opening match.
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
A Turkish fishing vessel rescued migrants from a boat in distress in international waters off Malta on Sunday (7 June), after the overcrowded craft capsized in the central Mediterranean.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment