The Australian Government has taken a major step towards delivering a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet, with contracts now signed for Australia’s first three general-purpose frigates.
Being built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the ships will be of the upgraded Japanese Mogami class frigate design, with the first scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029.
The upgraded Mogami-class frigate will have a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and a 32-cell vertical launch system (VLS). It will be equipped with surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, crewed by 92 Royal Australian Navy sailors and officers, and capable of operating the navy’s MH-60R Seahawk maritime combat helicopter.
The decision to acquire upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigates aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to more than double the size of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, following the 2024 independent analysis of the fleet.
In the 2026 Integrated Investment Program released this week, the Government committed to investing up to $20 billion over the decade in general-purpose frigates.
The contract-signing was marked by the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and his counterpart, the Japanese Minister of Defense, Koizumi Shinjirō , signing the ‘Mogami Memorandum’, reaffirming the Australian and Japanese Governments’ shared commitment to the successful delivery of Australia’s general-purpose frigates and deeper defense industry cooperation.
Earlier on, Royal Australian Navy personnel trained with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force aboard the Mogami-class frigate Japan Ship Kumano during its transit to Australia for Exercise Kakadu.
“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,” Marles stated.
“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,” Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy , noted.