Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who also holds the post of deputy prime minister, will travel to Japan at the beginning of next month to visit a Mogami-class frigate of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force at the Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The visit comes a few weeks after the Australian government’s announcement on 5th August, about the decision to adopt an updated version of the Mogami as a platform for the 11 new frigates destined for the Royal Australian Navy. Canberra’s goal is to sign a formal contract with Tokyo over the course of 2026, with cost negotiations already underway.
Mogami Class
The next-generation Japanese frigates offer advanced technological and operational solutions. The version proposed to Australia can be operated by a crew of about 90 people, which is half compared to a traditional destroyer, with significant savings in terms of personnel and management costs.
Another key element is the ability to integrate missile systems compatible with those of the United States, increasing interoperability with the US armed forces, a strategic ally for both nations.
Besides the frigate inspection, Marles will attend the annual “two-plus-two” summit between Japanese and Australian Foreign and Defense Ministers, to be held in Tokyo this year. The meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, with particular attention to the stability of the Indo-Pacific.
The agenda includes the increasing Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas, areas considered high strategic tension.
