Australia Signs Order for Three Mogami Frigates

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, with Japanese Minister of Defense, Koizumi Shinjiro, after signing the statement of intent onboard the visiting Japanese frigate JS Kumano in Melbourne, Australia on April 18, 2026 | Photo: Defence Australia/Rodney Braithwaite

Australia has signed a contract with Japan for the first three of eleven Mogami-class frigates, marking a step in the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet expansion. The agreement was concluded by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Japan’s Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjirō onboard the visiting Japanese frigate JS Kumano during its deployment to Australia.

The vessels will be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and are based on an upgraded version of the Mogami-class design. The first ship is scheduled for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029. The agreement forms part of a broader plan to acquire a total of eleven general purpose frigates.

Under current plans, the first three ships will be constructed in Japan, with later vessels expected to be built in Western Australia, subject to the consolidation of the Henderson Defence Precinct. The programme is linked to Australia’s policy of continuous naval shipbuilding and aims to develop domestic capability for sustaining and operating the new class. The acquisition is estimated to cost US$ 7 billion.

The upgraded Mogami-class frigates are designed for a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and will be equipped with a 32-cell vertical launch system. The ships are expected to carry surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles and operate with a crew of 92 personnel. They will also be capable of supporting the MH-60R Seahawk maritime combat helicopter.

The acquisition follows a 2024 independent analysis of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet and is included in the government’s 2026 Integrated Investment Program, which allocates up to $20 billion over the next decade for general purpose frigates. Australian defence authorities are working with Japanese industry and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to establish initial sustainment and operational arrangements.

The contract signing was formalised through the “Mogami Memorandum,” which outlines cooperation between the two governments on the delivery of the ships and defence industry collaboration. The visit of JS Kumano to Australia also included joint training between Royal Australian Navy personnel and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during its transit for Exercise Kakadu.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles said in a joint statement, “Acquiring upgraded-Mogami class frigates demonstrates the Albanese Government’s focus on investing in the capabilities we need to keep Australians safe. Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades. These general purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”

Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy said, “This is the fastest acquisition for the Royal Australian Navy in peacetime. We are working closely with Japanese and Australian industry partners as we acquire one of the most, if not the most, advanced general-purpose frigate in the world. We are delivering these commitments at pace, supporting and creating jobs for Australians, and deepening Australia’s industrial base. The first three frigates will be built offshore in Japan. We will then transition to an onshore build in line with the Government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding and a future made in Australia.”