Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate was chosen because it offered the best cost, capabilities and delivery schedule, not because its choice would enhance the already strong Japan-Australia strategic relationship, the government says.
Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Canberra the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) upgraded Mogami-class FFM frigate was the preferred platform for Australia’s 11 General Purpose Frigates.
The Minister said he personally conveyed the good news to Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani on Monday night.
Most significantly, this decision will give the Royal Australian Navy more new warships sooner, with the first set to enter service in 2030.
“That was why the Surface Fleet Review was very emphatic about the need for this to be based on a mature existing design and for the first of these frigates to be built overseas,” Marles said.
The review nominated four contenders, though the government ultimately considered five designs, short-listing to three, MHI’s upgraded Mogami-class and two based on the German MEKO 200.
Under Project Sea 3000, Australia is set to acquire 11 General Purpose Frigates, which, with the Hunter-class frigates, will replace the Navy’s ageing Anzac-class frigates.
To speed their entry to service, the first three GP Frigates will be constructed in MHI’s two yards in Japan, with the rest at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
Marles said the TKMS bid was very professional.
“That said, the Mogami-class frigate is the best frigate for Australia,” he said.
“This decision is entirely based on the capabilities of the respective ships. This is a decision that is made about how we can get the best platform, the best capability for the Royal Australian Navy.”
“Having made the decision, this does represent a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan.”
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Mogami was the clear winner in terms of cost, capability and meeting our schedule of delivery.
“The cost of acquisition of all three designs (MEKO, Mogami and upgraded Mogami) were comparable but over the whole of life the cost of the Mogami is much lower.”
“The Mogami-class stealth frigate is in production right now. It was the only option that met the government’s timeline of first frigate being delivered in 2029 for service in 2030.”
Marles said the Mogami was currently in service with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF).
The first two were laid down in October 2019 and commissioned in March and April 2022, with other vessels turned out at the rate around two per year, a very significant consideration for Australia which needs warships fast.
FFM is an evolution of the Mogami-class, displacing 6,000 tonnes full load, against 5,5000 tonnes for the Mogami. The first two FFMs are planned for delivery to Japan’s Navy in 2028.
This upgraded Mogami was the basis of MHI’s pitch to Australia.
“It is stealthy, it has 32 vertical launch cells capable of launching long-range missiles. It has a highly capable radar, it has a highly capable sonar. In that sense it is genuinely a general purpose frigate capable of engaging in air warfare and undersea warfare,” Marles said.
Notably the Mogami has a crew of 90 against 170 on the smaller Anzac-class frigates and 120 on a Meko. The Mogami has a range of 10,000 nautical miles against 6,000 for an Anzac.
Mogami’s 32 cell VLS has strike length cells, able to accommodate ESSM (four per cell) as well as the SM-2, SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles.
Avoiding an issue which has plagued other Australian shipbuilding projects – Navy fiddling with the design – Conroy said there would be no changes to the Mogami other than translation of the combat management system and regulatory changes required under Australian law.
“Later changes can only be approved by the Secretary of the Department and the Chief of the Defence Force in consultation with myself and the Minister for Defence,” he said.
“This is a lesson we have learned from previous acquisition and guarantees speed to capability.”
Conroy said the government was announcing the imminent execution of a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) with new Austal subsidiary Austal Defence Shipbuilding Pty Ltd.
“This will secure a continuous pipeline of shipbuilding work and will create thousands of jobs at the Henderson precinct in Western Australia which is being consolidated around the construction of Landing Craft Heavy and Landing Craft Medium.”
“This successful consolidation will allow Mogami production to be transferred to Henderson after the first batch of three frigates are built in Japan.”
Austal Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the SSA was a defining moment for Austal.
“It will establish Austal Defence Australia as the Commonwealth of Australia’s strategic shipbuilder for Tier 2 vessels in Western Australia and reflects both Austal’s excellent defence shipbuilding record and the capabilities that Austal possesses to help the Australian Government to achieve its defence objectives,” he said.
“The Commonwealth seeks to ensure Australia’s defence procurement possesses sovereignty and greater certainty and resilience across the naval ship supply chain in an increasingly complex strategic environment and in alignment with the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding policies.
“Through the SSA, Austal is committed to helping the CoA meet these objectives while establishing Austal Defence Australia as the CoA’s shipbuilder of choice in WA.”