Australia’s deal for 11 new stealth frigates from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries marks its ‘biggest-ever’ defence agreement with Japan
“This is clearly the biggest defence-industry agreement that has ever been struck between Japan and Australia,” Marles said, touting the A$10 billion (US$6 billion) deal.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded the tender over Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. “This decision was made based on what was the best capability for Australia,” Marles said. “We do have a very close strategic alignment with Japan.”
Mogami-class warships are advanced stealth frigates equipped with a potent array of weapons. Marles said they would replace Australia’s ageing fleet of Anzac-class vessels, with the first Mogami-class ship to be in service by 2030.
“The Mogami-class frigate is the best frigate for Australia,” he said. “It is a next-generation vessel. It is stealthy. It has 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles.”
