Tokyo And Canberra Strengthen Military Ties With Multibillion Dollar Frigate Deal
Japan has signed its largest-ever defense contract with Australia, agreeing to supply the first three of a planned fleet of 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to the Australian Navy. The multibillion-dollar deal was signed in Melbourne by Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, and marks a significant expansion of military and industrial cooperation between the two countries. The first frigates are expected to arrive in Australia in 2029, with the Mogami class set to become the backbone of continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia. This development was reported by The Japan Times.