Australia purchases 11 Mogami-class frigates from Japan in a $6.5 billion deal, marking a significant step for Japan's burgeoning arms sales sector. The deal signifies a strengthening military alliance between the two nations.
Japan 's defense industry has secured its first major warship export deal, marking a significant milestone for the nation's burgeoning arms sales sector. Australia announced on Tuesday that it will acquire 11 of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' 5,500-ton Mogami-class frigates in a deal valued at $6.5 billion.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles hailed the agreement as the largest defense industry accord between Japan and Australia, emphasizing its unprecedented scale in Japan's history of defense exports.The purchase reflects Australia's need to modernize its navy, replacing its aging fleet of Anzac-class frigates that are nearing the end of their service life. Three of the Mogami-class frigates will be constructed in Japan, while the remaining eight will be built at a Western Australia shipyard, fostering collaborative shipbuilding efforts. This purchase comes after Japan aimed to expand its weapons export industry after lifting a decades-long self-imposed ban on foreign arms sales.Following a post-World War II policy that emphasized pacifism and renounced war, Japan gradually restricted and then completely prohibited weapon exports. However, in 2014, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe initiated a partial lifting of the ban, allowing for limited weapon exports and development in collaboration with friendly nations. Japan further revised its policy in 2023 to permit the sale of lethal weapons to partner nations, responding to the growing military ambitions of China and North Korea.Winning this contract against competition from Germany, Spain, and South Korea, Japan's Mogami frigates stand as among the world's most advanced warships. First commissioned in 2022, the 427-foot vessels boast a sophisticated arsenal including Type 17 anti-ship cruise missile launchers, a 16-cell vertical launch system, .50 caliber machine guns, torpedo tubes, a five-inch main gun, and space for a helicopter or drones.A notable feature of the Mogami is its high degree of automation, allowing for efficient navigation and weapons handling with a smaller crew of around 90 personnel compared to warships of similar sizes. This marks a significant advancement in naval technology. The deal underscores the strengthening military partnership between Japan and Australia, both key members of the Quad, a strategic alliance with India and the United States aimed at counterbalancing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region
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