Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, and Japan’s Defence Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday during a signing

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships to be delivered to the Australian Navy under a landmark $7 billion defence deal, as the two key U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region strengthen military cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, and Japan’s Defence Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday during a signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.

The agreement, known as the “Mogami Memorandum,” aims to deepen military ties, including closer industrial collaboration in defence production.

Under the deal, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Austal will construct the remaining eight in Western Australia.

The first Japanese-built warship is expected to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.

Marles said the expansion of Australia’s surface fleet is more critical now than it has been in decades, adding that the new frigates will help protect maritime trade routes and strengthen northern defences as part of a more capable naval force.

Koizumi noted that closer defence cooperation is increasingly important as both countries face a more challenging security environment.

Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries last year to build its next-generation warship fleet after a competitive bid against Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

The deal is part of Australia’s broader plan to spend a record $305 billion on defence over the next decade, aimed at significantly boosting its naval capabilities to levels not seen since World War II.

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