Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, said on Tuesday that his country is set to acquire 11 Mogami-class frigates from Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Australia has been restructuring and modernising its military since 2023, with a focus on long-strike capabilities to better respond to Chinese Naval forces. It is looking to expand its existing naval fleet of top-of-the-line warships from 11 to 26 in the coming decade.
Marles said, "This is the biggest defence industry agreement that has ever been struck between Japan and Australia, which stands at a US$6 billion (Aus$10 billion) deal.” Mitsubishi outperformed German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in the bidding.
"This decision was made based on what was the best capability for Australia," Marles said, adding, "We do have a very close strategic alignment with Japan." Mogami-class warships are among the best in the world of stealth frigates, equipped with a range of potent weapons. These ships will start entering the Australian Navy by 2030, replacing the old and ageing Anzac-class frigates.
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"The Mogami-class frigate is the best frigate for Australia," said Marles. "It is a next-generation vessel. It is stealthy. It has 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles." He said, “Procuring these state-of-the-art naval frigates will make our navy a bigger navy and a more lethal navy.” Under the tripartite AUKUS pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, the Australian Navy plans to acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines within 15 years.
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