Australia, Japan strike largest defence deal for advanced warships
Australian minister lauds deal for next-generation, Mogami-class frigates and their long-range missile capabilities.
www.aljazeera.comHere’s a concise update on the Australia–Japan warship deal status based on recent reporting.
- Australia and Japan reached a landmark defense agreement to co-produce 11 Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, with three built in Japan initially and eight later constructed in Australia. This deal is valued around A$10 billion (about US$6.5 billion).[2][3][4]
- The pact marks Japan’s largest arms export since lifting its post-war export ban in 2014 and aligns with Australia’s broader naval modernization and strategic push in the Indo-Pacific.[3][2]
- Negotiations and implementation were expected to unfold through 2025–2026, with production ramping up toward 2029–2030 for the first ships.[4][3]
Illustrative example: The initial contract for three Japanese-built frigates under this deal represents Australia’s largest naval purchase since the AUKUS treaty, signaling a significant deepening of security ties between Canberra and Tokyo.[2]
Note: Several outlets have reported similar details from mid-2025, with corroborating summaries in Reuters, Al Jazeera, and MarineLink. If you’d like, I can pull the most recent articles and provide direct citations.[1][3][2]