Australia to Jointly Develop New Warships with Japan

TOKYO, Aug 05 (News On Japan) - Australia has selected Japan’s proposal for the joint development of next-generation naval vessels, marking a significant milestone in bilateral defense cooperation.

The Australian government announced on August 5th that it would proceed with the joint development of new warships based on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s latest Mogami-class frigates. Both Japan and Germany had submitted proposals for the project.

Defense Minister Nakatani stated, "We believe this decision reflects the high level of trust in Japan’s advanced technological capabilities and the importance placed on interoperability between the Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military."

The plan calls for a formal contract to be signed in early 2026, with up to 11 ships to be built at a projected total cost of approximately 950 billion yen. Nakatani emphasized the significance of the deal, noting that it would help strengthen Japan’s defense production and technological base.

Source: FNN

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