Australia and Japan are launching a billion-dollar shipbuilding deal
Australia and Japan have officially finalized a major defense deal worth approximately $7 billion, which includes the delivery of new combat frigates and the gradual ramp-up of their production. The ships are intended to strengthen control of sea lanes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The agreement also marks one of the biggest steps in military cooperation between the two countries in recent decades, Reuters reports.
Australia and Japan have moved from political agreements to the concrete launch of a major defense contract, which involves the supply of modern warships and the gradual localization of their construction. This is one of the largest agreements between the countries in the defense sector, directly linked to strengthening maritime security in the region.
The contracts were signed by Defense Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjirō Koizumi, officially cementing the agreement that the parties had previously reached. The Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is to supply Australia with three modernized Mogami-class multi-purpose frigates, the first of which are scheduled to be delivered starting in 2029.
Following the initial production phase in Japan, a gradual transition is planned to build some of the ships in Australia at the Henderson shipyard near Perth. Ultimately, Canberra plans to acquire eight more frigates, which will be assembled at its own facilities.
The Australian government emphasizes that the new ships are needed to protect key maritime trade routes and the northern approaches to the country, where China’s military activity has been increasing in recent years. This will make the fleet more mobile and technologically advanced.
For Japan, this agreement also holds political significance, as it effectively marks a gradual departure from post-war restrictions on military exports and expands its security cooperation beyond its alliance with the United States. For Tokyo, this is one of the largest defense deals since the relaxation of export rules in 2014.
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