Safeguarding Trade Routes: Australia To Add Japan’s Mogami-Class Warships to Empower Naval Fleet

Japan has secured a major defence agreement worth AUS$10 billion (approx $6.5 billion), marking its most significant arms deal since lifting its post-war export ban in 2014. This deal reflects Japan’s shift away from pacifism, aimed at balancing China’s growing influence.

Japan and Australia are both key members of the QUAD alliance, which also includes India and the United States.

As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver 3 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to the Royal Australian Navy, with construction beginning in Japan from 2029. A further eight ships will be built in Australia. This is perhaps Japan’s largest defence export.

Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani stated the agreement represents a major step towards deeper security cooperation. He said the selection proves confidence in Japan’s advanced technology and highlights the importance of effective coordination between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and Australia’s military.

Japan-Australia Warship Deal: How Tokyo beat a German firm to win its biggest defence order?

Mitsubishi was selected over German firm Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which had proposed its Meko A-200 warship, by Australia’s National Security Committee under Project Sea 3000. While Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said China’s military expansion did not affect the choice, analysts have long believed concerns about Beijing were a likely factor.

Japan and Australia have become increasingly aligned on defence matters in recent years. The Mogami-class proposal was seen as an opportunity to strengthen industrial ties and joint military operations. Marles added the improved Mogami vessels would help safeguard Australia’s trade routes and northern sea approaches, forming part of a more powerful naval fleet to replace the current Anzac-class warships.

Why Australia picking Japanese firm matters?

Japanese-made frigates are set to replace Australia’s ANZAC-class ships, which are the oldest surface combatant fleet the navy has been operating since the end of World War II. “This is clearly the biggest defence industry agreement that will ever have been struck between Japan and Australia,” Marles shared.

Why this matters is because the massive deal does represent a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan. In fact, it’s really one of the biggest defence exports that Japan has ever engaged in. The first warship would come into service by the end of this decade.

What is Mogami-class frigate?

Named after the Japanese Mogami river, Mogami-class warships are modern stealth ships that can fire long-range missiles, with a 32 Cell Vertical Launch System, and travel up to 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km) without needing to refuel. In contrast, Australia’s current Anzac-class ships can go around 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km).

It also shares its name with a World War II heavy cruiser Mogami and a Cold War destroyer escort Mogami. These warships feature a Lockheed Martin 16-cell Mk16 VLS for MHI Type 03 Chu-SAM missiles and two quad launchers for MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles, which can reach 250 miles.