The Australian federal government has announced a significant investment of $10 billion in new warships for the Royal Australian Navy, securing a contract with the Japanese multinational Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The decision to award the contract to Mitsubishi, over German competitor TKM, comes ahead of its anticipated schedule.
The project involves the construction of advanced Mogami-class frigates, which are set to replace the navy’s ageing Anzac-class vessels in the coming years. The Mogami-class frigate boasts impressive capabilities, including a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, equipped with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and systems for underwater warfare.
To expedite the process, the Australian government has ordered the first three warships to be constructed overseas, with plans for these vessels to arrive in Australian waters by 2029 and to become operational by 2030. Most of the subsequent frigates will be built in Perth.
Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasised that this initiative forms part of a larger strategy to significantly expand the navy’s surface combat fleet, aimed at enhancing maritime security for Australia’s trade routes and northern regions. He stated, “The upgraded Mogami-class frigate will help secure our maritime trade routes as part of a larger and more lethal naval surface combatant fleet.”
Furthermore, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy highlighted the upgrades the new vessels will provide, notably increasing the navy’s firepower capabilities. He noted that the new frigates would allow for a jump in missile firepower from 32 air defence missiles to an impressive 128, thus providing Australian sailors with state-of-the-art weapons and combat systems essential for success in an increasingly complex maritime environment.