Japan will supply Australia with 11 advanced frigates under a recent $6.5 billion deal. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver three upgraded Mogami-class multirole frigates built in Japan and eight ships will be built in Western Australia under a phased production transfer agreement announced in August 2025.
The Mogami-class vessels can perform anti-submarine warfare, surface-strike and air-defense missions. Each frigate features a highly automated combat management system that allows operation by a crew of about 90 Sailors, roughly half the personnel required on Australia’s Anzac-class frigates, the Australian Defence Department stated.
The new ships carry 32 vertical launch cells for surface-to-air missiles, a capability that can scale to 128 interceptors, and have a range of 10,000 nautical miles compared with the Anzac’s 6,000 nautical miles.
“The upgraded Mogami-class frigate will help secure our maritime trade routes and our northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal naval surface combatant fleet,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles stated.
The stealth frigates “will reassure our allies and deter our adversaries,” Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy stated. “It will take our general purpose frigates from being able to fire 32 air defence missiles to 128 missiles, giving our sailors the cutting‑edge weapons and combat systems they need to prevail in an increasingly complex environment.”
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the agreement will enhance joint operations and interoperability. “We welcome the decision by the Australian government as a major step to further elevate Japan’s national security cooperation with Australia, which is our special strategic partner,” he said.
The deal builds on Australia’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review, which recommended modernizing the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with long-range strike and air-defense capabilities to counter potential threats. It also forms part of a $35.7 billion investment in surface combatants over the next decade and deepens security ties among Allies and Partners including Australia, Japan and the United States in response to evolving challenges.
Construction of the first frigate in Japan is set to begin in 2029. Australia plans to phase out its Anzac-class fleet as the new ships join service and to double its fleet of warships during the next decade, building the RAN’s largest surface combatant force since World War II.
Sentry is a professional military magazine published by U.S. Strategic Command to provide a forum for national security personnel.
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