Australia, Japan sign frigate deal, defence ties enter new phase

Australia Japan Defence Minister's Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, with the Minister of Defense of Japan Koizumi Shinjiro, signing the statement of intent, in Melbourne, Australia. *** Local Caption *** On 18 April, the Hon Richard Marles MP welcomed Japanese Defense Minister KoizumiShinjiro to Australia. In Melbourne, Ministers held a Defence Ministers Meeting to strengthen defence cooperation between Australia and Japan. The Australian Government also approved the acquisition of the first three of eleven upgraded Mogami class frigates to be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. The Australia-Japan partnership supports regional deterrence and helps ensure stability, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Credit: Rodney Braithwaite/Rodney Braithwaite

Australia has signed contracts to buy Japanese warships to prop up its navy as it looks to project firepower deeper into the Pacific. In what is Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014, Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi have signed a memorandum for the $10 billion contract.

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Published 20 April 2026 11:25am

Presented by Yumi Oba

Source: SBS

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Australia has signed contracts to buy Japanese warships to prop up its navy as it looks to project firepower deeper into the Pacific. In what is Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014, Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi have signed a memorandum for the $10 billion contract.

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