The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mogami-class frigate was chosen ahead of Germany’s MEKO A-200 frigate from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
ABC reports that the deal is worth $10 billion and involves 11 new frigates.
Alongside Hunter frigates and upgraded Hobart destroyers and advanced missile spending, the new frigates are part of plans to more than double the size of Navy’s surface combat fleet.
According to the government, the decision to award the contract is months ahead of schedule.
The Australian Defence Force is to sign contracts with Mitsubishi and Japan next year.
The first three frigates are to be built in Japan, with the first due for delivery to Australia in 2029 and to become operational in 2030.
Upgrading WA’s defence precinct at Henderson will enable the rest of the fleet (eight vessels) to be built locally, government says.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says the Mogami frigates will help secure maritime trade routes and the country’s northern approaches.
It will also drive jobs, spending and infrastructure for decades to come, he adds.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says the decision is “another step towards a much larger and more lethal Navy”.
“The upgraded Mogami‑class frigate is the best option for our Navy, boosting its capability to put to sea,” he says.
“It will take our general purpose frigates from being able to fire 32 air defence missiles to 128 missiles, giving our sailors the cutting‑edge weapons and combat systems they need to prevail in an increasingly complex environment.”
The Mogami frigate has a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, a 32-cell missile vertical launch system, and surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles.
The new frigates will be equipped for undersea warfare and air defence duties.
WA SHIPBUILDING DEAL
The federal government also signed a new deal with Austal Defence Shipbuilding to create a continuous pipeline of work in Western Australia.
Under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, Austal will build 18 medium landing craft for the Army and, conditionally, eight heavy landing craft as well as two patrol boats for the Navy.
The landing craft projects alone are expected to create 1100 direct jobs and more than 2000 indirect jobs, government says.
