Australia and Japan Conclude Agreement on Delivery of Military Ships
Australia and Japan have sealed a deal worth about seven billion dollars for the delivery of frigates. This is Japan's most significant military export since the lifting of the arms export ban in 2014.
Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi signed a memorandum confirming their commitment to the successful delivery of the project. The deal, struck last August, is part of Tokyo's efforts to strengthen security ties beyond its alliance with the US.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will supply the Australian Navy with three upgraded Mogami-class multipurpose frigates built in Japan from 2029. Another eight ships will be built in Australia.
The first three frigates will be built in Japan, after which production will move to the Henderson shipyard near Perth. Officials from both countries say this is another step towards strengthening defence relations.
Australia wants to deploy these ships to protect key commercial shipping routes and its northern approaches in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where China's military presence is growing.