The deal between Australia and Japan is historic in one notable respect: it marks the first time that Tokyo has exported warships since the end of World War II.
A key US ally in the Indo-Pacific is upgrading its naval force with the addition of 11 frigates.
The Australian Navy recently announced its intent to purchase 11 copies of the Mogami-class frigate from Japan as its new general-purpose frigates.
Japanese Frigates Are Heading ‘Down Under’
“Today, we are taking another step towards delivering a much larger and more lethal Navy, with stealth frigates that will reassure our allies and deter our adversaries,” Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy stated in a press release.
Smaller than cruisers and destroyers, frigates can still play an important part in large-scale fighting either directly or indirectly. Frigates usually carry a combination of air defense, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare weapon systems and sensors.
“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 Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.
According to the Australian Ministry of Defence, the new Japanese-made frigates will carry as many as 128 air defense missiles, a notable upgrade from the Royal Australian Navy’s frigates’ current capability of 32 air defense missiles. The deal will cost approximately AUD $10 billion, or roughly USD $6.5 billion.
Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems also competed for the Australian Navy contract, but eventually lost to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
This will give “our sailors the cutting‑edge weapons and combat systems they need to prevail in an increasingly complex environment,” Conroy stated.
The Royal Australian Navy will significantly boost its naval and area-defense capabilities with the addition of the new frigates. The contract is also part of Australia’s maritime build-up, as the country seeks to bolster its naval capabilities in the face of Chinese truculence in the region. Canberra is also buying nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and the United Kingdom as part of the AUKUS agreement.
“This decision comes months ahead of schedule, reinforcing our commitment to delivery of capability at speed and at a lower overall cost to taxpayers. It makes good on our commitment to deliver four times as many warships in the next 10 years compared to the plan inherited by the former Coalition government,” Conroy added.
The deal between Australia and Japan is historic in one notable respect: it marks the first time that Tokyo has exported warships since the end of World War II. That great clash of nations, of course, saw Australia and Japan on opposite sides.
America Needs a Strong Australia-Japan Partnership
In the event of a near-peer clash with China in the Indo-Pacific, the US military would look to its allies and partners in the region for assistance. Australia is one of the most loyal and committed US allies in the theater.
Although the US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps possess important capabilities, they also have a global mission. Thus, their forward-deployed and -based forces in the Indo-Pacific would likely be at a disadvantage against the Chinese military, which can concentrate all of its forces in the area.
However, with the contribution of close allies and partners, such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, America’s air and naval posture in the region is far stronger.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
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