Australia and Japan have formally signed a multi‑billion‑dollar contract for the first three vessels in Australia’s next generation of warships, marking a major milestone in defence cooperation between the two nations. The agreement was finalised during a ceremony aboard the Japanese frigate JS Kumano, anchored at the Melbourne waterfront.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart, Koizumi Shinjirō, joined senior officials from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to celebrate the deal. The federal government had announced last August that Mitsubishi had secured the contract after a competitive bid against a German contender to supply 11 new frigates to replace Australia’s ageing Anzac‑class fleet.
The atmosphere aboard the vessel was at times celebratory, with Chief of Navy and incoming Defence Force Chief Mark Hammon declaring “let’s cut steel” moments after the ministers signed the Mogami Memorandum a pact reaffirming both nations’ commitment to the program and easing barriers to defence‑industry collaboration.
Marles said the partnership aims to build a “seamless” defence industrial base between Australia and Japan, describing such cooperation as essential to the success of the frigate program. He noted that the two countries share deep strategic alignment, underpinned by what he described as a foundation of trust.
The agreement marks one of the most significant defence‑industry collaborations between Australia and Japan to date, signalling a long‑term commitment to shared security and technological advancement.
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