Australia, Japan Ink Multibillion Dollar Warship Deal

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (front L) and Japan's Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro (front R) pose for a photo after the signing of the contract for Japan to deliver the first three of Mogami-class warships, in Melbourne on April 18, 2026. Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Japan agreed on Saturday to a deal to provide Australia’s navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of Canberra’s wider military build-up aimed at boosting its long-range firepower to deter China.

Under the deal announced last year and billed as one of Japan’s biggest defense export deals since World War II, Australia will pay Au$10 billion ($6 billion) over the next 10 years to acquire the fleet of stealth frigates.

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by Agence France-Presse

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