Australia is set to acquire a fleet of stealth frigates from Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in a deal worth $6 billion over the next decade. The agreement, billed as Japan’s biggest defense export deal since World War II, will bolster Australia’s navy with advanced long-range firepower to deter China.
The country aims to expand its fleet of major warships from 11 to 26 over the next decade. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded the tender over Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
The new frigates are equipped with a potent array of weapons, including 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles. They will replace Australia’s ageing fleet of Anzac-class vessels, with the first ship expected to enter service by 2030.
The deal further cements a burgeoning security partnership between Australia and Japan, which are both members of the “Quad” group alongside India and the United States. The agreement marks a significant step towards elevating national security cooperation between the two nations.
Japan’s pacifist constitution restricts arms exports, but Tokyo loosened controls in 2024 to enable it to boost sales abroad. The order is Japan’s largest defense export deal since World War II, with the Australian government paying $6 billion over 10 years for the fleet of stealth frigates.
The acquisition will make Australia’s navy a bigger and more lethal force, according to Defense Minister Richard Marles. “This decision was made based on what was the best capability for Australia,” he said.
Source: https://fortune.com/asia/2025/08/05/japan-australia-stealth-frigate-deal-mitsubishi-heavy-industries