Three months after Japan’s success as chosen supplier of Australia’s new General Purpose frigates, Japanese companies have made their largest ever appearance at an Australian defence expo.
A total of 13 Japanese companies – both established firms and startups – are exhibiting at the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney.
That’s a step forward from Indo-Pac 2023 when 10 Japanese companies exhibited in Australia. That was a first for Japan’s defence industry attending an Australian defence expo.
One of those exhibiting in 2023 was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, then promoting its new Future Multi-mission Frigate design for Australia, then regarded at best as an outside prospect.
Rear Admiral Sasaki Touri, deputy director general for naval systems with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) told ADM Japan greatly appreciated Australia’s choice of Mogami.
“One of the reasons we are having a big exposition is thanks to the interest from the Australian people for the Moagmi frigate. That actually expanded the business opportunities for the private companies,” he said.
“The private companies have started to acknowledge that business opportunity in Australia.”
“All this business collaboration between Japan and Australia is going to develop even further.”
RADM Touri said for Japan, Australia was one of the very important countries in terms of the Pacific Ocean.
“Having collaboration in terms of the security and the economy and in the upgrading of the Mogami, it will be strengthened,” he said.
In early August, the government announced that the upgraded Mogami-class FFM frigate was the preferred platform for Australia’s 11 General Purpose Frigates. The first three vessels will be constructed in Japan, with the first delivered in 2029.
This was a very significant innovation as Japan has never sold major military equipment to Australia or anyone else.
RADM Touri said the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force would conduct the testing of the first of the new ships before the Australian navy takes delivery of its first Mogami.
Australia will receive the first of these new vessels by the end of the decade as the JMSDF relinquished early production slots.
“The easy answer is our strong relationship and friendship,” he said.