Australia signs frigate agreement with Japan
The frigate contract, worth $6.5 billion, was signed during a high-level Australia-Japan defense ministers meeting.
Artist rendition of a Mogami-class frigate. Photo from Royal Australian Navy site.
Manuel Mogato | April 29, 2026
MELBOURNE — Australia has signed an agreement with Japan to acquire three frigates, cementing closer defense production relations between the two countries.
A statement from the Japanese defense ministry said the first of the three Mogami-class will be delivered in 2029.
The frigate contract, worth $6.5 billion, was signed during a high-level Australia-Japan defense ministers meeting.
“We announced the finalization of contracts for the acquisition of Australia’s first three general-purpose frigates, and the signing of the accompanying Memorandum of Implementation and an arrangement between our defence authorities,” based on the Japanese defense ministry’s statement.
“We looked forward to working closely to deliver the first Royal Australian Navy general purpose frigate in 2029, and to establishing the associated sustainment base and shipbuilding capability in Australia.”
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three frigates in Japan, but Australia plans to build another eight in a shipyard in Western Australia.
The frigate deal gave a major boost to Japan’s still-underdeveloped defense industry after it lost out on Australia’s submarine contract to a French company in 2016.
The Japanese-designed fleet will replace Australia’s aging ANZAC-class frigates that are considered increasingly vulnerable to modern missile and drone attack.
During the defense ministers’ meeting, the two allies exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, South China Sea, Taiwan, and East China Sea.
Japan’s defense ministry also welcomed the increased joint training and exercises between Australia and the United States and between the Philippines and the United States, particularly on maritime security. (Also read: Japanese defense minister to observe ‘Balikatan’)
The two allies also discussed cybersecurity cooperation.