Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Wins Prestigious Australian Navy Contract

In a significant boost to Japan-Australia defense ties, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been awarded a $6.5 billion contract to construct Australia's new fleet of navy frigates. This decision comes after a tight competition with Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, showcasing the global interest in modernizing Australia's naval capabilities.

Why Japan's Mogami-Class Frigate Stood Out

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles highlighted that the selection of Japan's Mogami-class frigate over the German MEKO A-200 was "entirely based on the capability of the respective ships." These 11 advanced frigates are set to replace Australia's aging Anzac-class ships, with the first vessel expected to be operational by 2030. "It is a next-generation vessel. It is stealthy. It has 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles," Marles elaborated, marking this deal as a cornerstone in Australia-Japan relations.

A Historic Defense Collaboration

Marles further emphasized the magnitude of this agreement, stating, "This is clearly the biggest defense industry agreement that will ever have been struck between Japan and Australia. In fact, it's really one of the biggest defense exports that Japan has ever engaged in." The construction of the first three frigates will take place in Japan, with the remaining ships to be built in Western Australia, fostering international cooperation and local industry growth.