Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday, 18th April 2026, to deliver the first three of a fleet of advanced Mogami-class stealth frigates, part of a AU$10 billion (approximately USD 6.5 billion) programme that marks the largest defence-industry agreement ever struck between the two countries.
What Happened at the Melbourne Ceremony
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles attended the signing ceremony aboard JS Kumano, a Mogami-class frigate currently part of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, docked off Melbourne.
JS Kumano, the Mogami-class frigate. [Wikipedia]
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy described it as “the fastest acquisition for the Royal Australian Navy in peacetime.”
“We are working closely with Japanese and Australian industry partners as we acquire one of the most, if not the most, advanced general-purpose frigates in the world,” Conroy added.
Why Australia Needed These Ships
Australia’s current ANZAC-class frigates are about 30 years old. They are considered increasingly vulnerable to modern missile and drone attack.
The Royal Australian Navy has been under pressure to modernise its surface combatant fleet, particularly as the Indo-Pacific security environment grows more complex. The Mogami-class frigates represent a significant capability leap.
The Mogami-class warships are advanced stealth frigates capable of launching long-range missiles and have an operational range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, compared with Australia’s current ANZAC-class frigates.
Each ship features advanced radar and sonar capabilities, with 32 vertical launch cells capable of firing long-range missiles. Its offensive and defensive capabilities span anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, as well as sophisticated surveillance and mine-sweeping functions.
Who Builds What and When
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build another eight at a shipyard in Western Australia.
The Australian Marine Complex in Western Australia, the planned build site for eight of the 11 Mogami-class frigates. [Wikipedia]
The first ship is due in Australia by 2029. Marles called it “the fastest acquisition of a surface combatant into service in the Royal Australian Navy ever.”
Key details of the programme:
- 11 frigates total in the planned fleet
- First 3 built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Remaining 8 to be built at the Australian Marine Complex in Western Australia
- Delivery of first ship: 2029
- Total programme value: AU$10 billion over the next decade
One key selling point was crew size. Koizumi said a decisive factor in Australia choosing the Japanese frigate was that it could be operated with just 90 personnel, around half the crew of Australia’s current ANZAC-class version.
What It Means for Japan
This deal is a watershed moment for Japan’s defence industry. It gave a major boost to Japan’s still-underdeveloped defence industry after it lost out on Australia’s submarine contract to a French company in 2016.
The contract for the frigates is Japan’s biggest and most significant defence deal since it lifted a decades-long ban on military exports in 2014. It is only the second such export deal, after Japan agreed to supply air defence radars to the Philippines.
Japan has been accelerating its military buildup while expanding its defence ties beyond its only treaty ally, the United States.
The Bigger Strategic Picture
This deal sits inside a much larger Australian defence spending push. Marles said Japan continued to be Australia’s “indispensable partner” in a new Australian defence strategy in which AU$53 billion would be added to the defence budget over a decade.
The frigates are part of a broader effort to expand Australia’s surface combatant fleet from 11 to 26 warships by 2040. Against the backdrop of Chinese warships operating near Australian waters in recent years, the pace of Australia’s naval expansion carries significant strategic weight.
Analysts say the warships deal will create long-term coordination between the two navies amid mutual concerns over China’s rise.
Australia’s defence budget debate has intensified in recent months, with both major parties committing to significant spending increases. This deal represents one of the most concrete outcomes of that direction.
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FAQs
Q: What is the Australia and Japan warship deal?
A: Australia and Japan signed contracts in April 2026 for the first three Mogami-class stealth frigates, part of a AU$10 billion programme to deliver 11 ships to the Royal Australian Navy over the coming decade.
Q: Who is building the frigates?
A: Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three ships in Japan. The remaining eight are expected to be built at the Australian Marine Complex in Western Australia.
Q: When will Australia receive its first Mogami-class frigate?
A: The first frigate is scheduled for delivery in 2029.
Q: Why did Australia choose the Mogami-class over German alternatives?
A: Australia selected the Mogami design over Germany’s MEKO A-200 frigate, citing its advanced stealth and combat capabilities and the ability to operate with a crew of around 90, roughly half that of the current ANZAC-class.
Q: What is the strategic significance of this deal for Japan?
A: It is Japan’s largest defence export deal since World War II and a major step in its post-2014 push to become a meaningful player in the global defence market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
