Australia and Japan set to sign contract for Navy’s $10b Mogami warship program
A contract for Navy’s $10b Mogami warship program will be signed this weekend in defence minister Richard Marles’ home state alongside his Japanese counterpart, eight months after Tokyo won the lucrative bid.
A contract for Navy’s $10b Mogami warship program will be signed this weekend in defence minister Richard Marles’ home state alongside his Japanese counterpart, eight months after Tokyo won the lucrative bid.
Japanese defence minister Shinjirō Koizumi has flown to Australia for the public event to mark the formal conclusion of negotiations on the new fleet of 11 general-purpose frigates to replace the ageing Anzac-class ships.
The upgraded Mogami-class frigate by Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries won a tightly fought bid against German’s MEKO A-200 by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in what was hailed as a “very significant moment” in the bilateral relationship with Tokyo.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Japanese designed vessels will have a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and be equipped with a 32-cell vertical launch system, surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles.
Sources close to the project claim that the final contract for the massive project was actually settled last month and quietly signed by officials, but a “photo opportunity” signing with Japan’s Defence Minister has now been arranged for this weekend.
Under project SEA3000, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is expected to deliver the initial Japanese built Mogami frigate to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029, with the first three warships to be build overseas, before construction moves to Western Australia.
Local company Austal has been slated to construct the final eight ships in WA, but Japan has been spooked by Australia’s recent decision to allow South Korean company Hanwha to take a 19.9 per cent stake in the Henderson-based shipbuilder.
Last year the West revealed Tokyo had twice written to the Australia’s Defence Department expressing concerns about Hanwha’s proposal to increase its ownership of Austal, given the Perth-based shipbuilder’s role in constructing Mogami warships.
Planning is also underway for Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to visit Australia, likely next month, in a trip that would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between both countries.
