Australia buys 11 frigates in Japan for $ 6 billion

Australia announced on Tuesday the purchase of 11 furtive frigates of the Japanese Mitsubishi. Nevertheless, Heavy Industries (MHI) group for 6 billion US dollars (4.85 billion francs), as part of the modernization of its equipment in the face of the military rise of China. Therefore, This contract is “clearly the biggest defense-industry agreement ever concluded between Japan and Australia,” said Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

The stealth frigates of Mogami class. In addition, expected by Australia by 2030, are intended to replace those, aging, of Anzac class, entry into service in the 1990s. In addition, They are able to launch long -range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

For this call for tenders. Similarly, MHI competed with the German group Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Meanwhile, Spanish and South Korean groups had australia buys 11 frigates japan been dismissed earlier in the process.

In 2023 Australia launched a major restructuring of its armed forces to provide them with long -range striking capacities in. order to better respond to Chinese naval power. The country strives to extend its fleet of large ships to 26 units over the next 10 years.

“The Mogami class frigate is the best frigate for Australia,” said Richard Marles. “It is a new generation ship. It is stealthy. It has a vertical launch system of 32 cells capable of pulling long-range missiles, “he added. “The acquisition of these furtive frigates will make our navy greater and more lethal,” he said.

Aukus program

The first three Mugami class frigates will be built abroad. said Minister of Defense Industry Pat Conroy, the Australian-Western shipyards being supposed to produce the rest.

In 2021. Australia had caused a thunderclap by announcing the acquisition of nuclear propulsion submarines of American design, abandoning australia buys 11 frigates japan a plan of several years aimed at developing non-nuclear submarines with French Naval Group.

This decision. which had provoked an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Paris and Canberra, was accompanied by Washington’s announcement of the creation of a military cooperation agreement, Aukus, linking Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom and intended to counter Chinese expansionism in Indo-Pacific. In practice, the Australian navy plans to acquire at least three Virginia class American submarines over the next 15 years.

In total. the military program developed as part of Aukus could cost the country up to 235 billion US dollars over the next 30 years, according to the Australian government forecasts, a cost that aroused criticism of the strategy.

Australia plans to gradually increase its defense expenses to 2.4% of the gross domestic product-above the target of 2% australia buys 11 frigates japan set by its NATO allies, but below the American requirements of 3.5%.

Large defense projects in Australia have long suffered from cost -effects, government reversals, policy changes. They were also accused of passing the creation of local jobs before the defense imperatives.