On April 10, the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) announced it had convened the second meeting of the “Government-Industry Joint Committee for the Promotion of Australia’s Next General Purpose Frigate Program.” This public-private committee, comprised of Japanese government ministries and industry representatives, aims to support Japan’s bid to supply Mogami-class stealth frigates to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) through a unified “One Team” approach. JMOD’s goal is to secure the selection of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force-operated vessel over the competing German-designed MEKO A-200. A final decision by Canberra is expected in the second half of this year, with the contract estimated to be worth 10 billion Australian dollars (approximately 6.4 billion USD).
About Australia’s General-Purpose Frigate Program
Australia is currently in the process of selecting a prime contractor for its SEA3000 General-Purpose Frigate (GPF) program, which aims to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s ageing ANZAC-class frigates. The two contenders are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Mogami-class FFM multi-role frigate and Germany’s MEKO A-200, developed by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. This follows a decision in November 2024 to downselect from an initial shortlist that then also included the Spanish Alfa 3000 (Navantia) and South Korea’s FFX Batch II (Hanwha Ocean) and Batch III (Hyundai Heavy Industries) designs.
Canberra plans to acquire 11 frigates, either Japan’s Mogami-class or Germany’s MEKO A-200, depending on the final selection. The Australian Department of Defence has expressed its intention to work closely with MHI, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and Australian industry partners to further refine and develop both proposals.[1] The first three ships expected to be delivered to the RAN are currently scheduled to be built offshore, outside of Australia, while the remaining eight are planned to be built in-country in Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard. The vessels are expected to be equipped with undersea warfare and local air defense capabilities to help secure maritime trade routes and Australia’s northern approaches.
Tokyo’s Ongoing Campaign to Secure Australia’s Frigate Contract
Japan, in a bid to secure the frigate contract, is actively promoting the Mogami-class to Australia. Following the recent meeting of Tokyo’s Government-Industry Joint Committee, the Ministry of Defense (JMOD) took to social media, hashtagging Australia and affirming, “We will continue our best efforts toward final selection!”[2] Demonstrating Japan’s “One Team” approach, this joint public-private promotion committee, co-chaired by Vice Defense Minister Kazuo Masuda and MHI President and CEO Seiji Izumisawa, was first established last year in support of the campaign.
Tokyo’s promotion committee reflects a whole-of-government concerted effort to the bid, including representatives from not only JMOD and the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), but also the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Private sector representatives in the committee alongside MHI have included Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, Hitachi, and Japan Marine United (JMU).
The inaugural meeting of the Joint Public-Private Promotion Committee was held on December 13 last year, with the official readout released on April 10, coinciding with the announcement of the committee’s second meeting held that same day.[3]
In the first meeting held last December, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani had emphasized the Mogami’s advanced capabilities and the importance of unified public-private efforts to secure Australia’s selection. Vice Minister Kazuo Masuda highlighted Australia’s status as Japan’s “Special Strategic Partner” and emphasized growing defense and security cooperation. Meanwhile, MHI President Izumisawa reaffirmed commitment to addressing the challenges of overseas defense transfers and aligning the effort with Japan’s overall national security strategy.[4]
Both Japanese government and industry, reflecting the goals of the committee’s joint public-private promotion efforts, since launched a range of initiatives to promote the Mogami to Australia.
One week after the inaugural joint public-private committee meeting, ATLA released a promotional video for the Mogami-class FFM on 19 December featuring the following description:
“Japan’s decision for Royal Australian Navy Sea3000 confirmed 06FFM Mogami can be transferred to Australia, for deeper cooperation with our Special Strategic Partner and regional shipbuilding / sustainment capabilities. Team Japan will continue our effort toward final selection!”[5]
The four main strengths of the Mogami FFM featured in ATLA’s video include:
1) Advanced Stealth Technology:
• The Mogami features a hull and superstructure designed to minimize radar cross-section (RCS).
• Internal installation of torpedoes and missiles.
• Integration of seven radar antennas into a unique integrated stealth antenna system called “UNICORN” (UNIfied Complex Radio aNtenna).
2) Interoperability with Aegis:
• Japan’s Mogami-class FFM can rapidly detect threat activities targeting Aegis-equipped vessels and support their engagement in anti-air warfare by leveraging force connectivity between the FFM’s Combat Information Center (CIC) and the Aegis CIC, enabled through the Link 16 data link. It is notable here that Australia also operates the U.S.-developed Aegis ant-air warfare system on its three Hobart-class destroyers.[6]
3) Manpower Efficiency:
• ATLA notes that a traditional CIC features separated monitors, console-based operations, and compartmentalized rooms, requiring approximately 160 crew members. In contrast, the FFM’s new CIC integrates functions such as the radio room and ship control, reducing crew requirements to just 90 personnel.
4) Designed to Evolve:
• Mogami can accommodate unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and integrates autonomous mine counter measures (MCM), notably Japan’s “OZZ-5” UUV.
Japan’s other promotional initiatives have included an on-board tour of the latest frigate in the Mogami-class, the JS Nagara (FFM-10), for Australian journalists last December and, more recently, a port call this March of the JS Noshiro (FFM-3) to Perth where high-ranking RAN Officers were welcomed on board.[7]
Moreover, the Japanese government has been keen to stress the significance of the Japan-Australian strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific alongside their mutual U.S. ally, with whom both nations have highly interoperable naval systems. In turn, Japan’s defense officials have indicated that Australia could even receive the upgraded “New FFM” Mogami frigate, the first of which is expected to be delivered in 2027, before the JMSDF.[8]
Conclusions
To secure Australia’s lucrative contract over the Berlin MEKO-200A bid, Tokyo must also offer deeper industrial cooperation to make the deal domestically appealing for Canberra, in terms of both economic development and job creation. To this end, to support Tokyo’s “One Team” approach, Japan’s private sector should now actively pursue enhanced defense industrial partnerships in Australia, particularly with an eye on Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard, which is due to be expanded in size to accommodate a new defense-focused precinct.[9]
To this end, MHI, as prime contractor for the Mogami-class of frigates, announced in February that its Australian subsidiary will be expanding its business activities in Canberra to strengthen business ties with Australian government agencies and local companies.[10] The ramping up of such efforts will be indispensable in bolstering Tokyo’s chances of securing the contract to supply Mogami-class destroyers to the RAN, with Canberra’s decision expected in the second half of this year.
Notes:
※1 USD = 1.57 AUD
[1] Australian Department of Defence, “General purpose frigate milestone reached with down-selection of shipbuilders”, November 25, 2024, https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-11-25/general-purpose-frigate-milestone-reached-down-selection-shipbuilders.
[2] Japan Ministry of Defense, Post on X, April 11, 2025, https://x.com/ModJapan_en/status/1910499055010238658.
[3] Japan Ministry of Defense, “第２回豪州政府の次期汎用フリゲートの共同開発・生産に向けた官民合同推進委員会の開催について” (Regarding the holding of the 2nd meeting of the Government-Industry Joint Committee for the Promotion for Australia’s Next General Purpose Frigate program), April 10, 2025, https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2025/04/10c.html.
[4] Japan Ministry of Defense, “豪州政府の次期汎用フリゲートの共同開発・生産に向けた 官民合同推進委員会（第１回）議事要旨” (Summary of the 1st meeting of the Government-Industry Joint Committee for the Promotion for Australia’s Next General Purpose Frigate program), December 13, 2024, https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2025/04/10c_01.pdf.
[5] ATLA Official Channel, “海上自衛隊 FFM 「もがみ」型フリゲート/ JMSDF FFM “MOGAMI” Class”, December 19, 2024, https://youtu.be/Wphob_EDETI.
[6] For background on the Australian Aegis-equipped destroyer program, see: Eric Wertheim, “Australia’s Aegis Destroyers”, Proceedings, Vol. 146(8), August 2020, https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2020/august/australias-aegis-destroyers.
[7] Kym Bergmann, “Mogami frigate – ‘fast and stealthy, like a ninja’, Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter, December 29, 2024, https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/mogami-frigate-fast-and-stealthy-like-a-ninja/; Self Defense Fleet, “JS NOSHIRO visited Perth, Australia.”, March 17, 2025, https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/english/news/2025/03/0317.html.
[8] Andrew Greene, “Japan vows to prioritise Australia over its own navy with new Mogami warships”, ABC News, January 29, 2025, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-29/japan-vows-to-give-australia-first-access-to-mogami-warship/104868658.
[9] Government of Western Australia, “New Defence Precinct at Henderson”, October 31, 2024, https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/new-defence-precinct-henderson.
[10] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Australia Expands Business Activities in Canberra”, February 26, 2025, https://www.mhi.com/news/250226.html.
This article was originally posted on NSBT Japan, the first defense and security industry network in Japan. The publication provides the latest information on security business trends both within Japan and overseas. Asian Military Review began exchanging articles with NSBT Japan in April 2024.
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