As Australia prepares to replace some of its aging frigates, Canberra has identified Japan’s Mogami-class advanced multi-mission warships operated by the Maritime Self-Defense Force as one of five potential candidates for that role .
As Tokyo and contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries face stiff competition from rivals with more experience in defense exports, analysts say the Mogami-class warships – or co-developed Australian variants thereof – have a fair chance in any bidding war.
Not only would the Japanese frigate’s advanced design and capabilities meet broad Royal Australian Navy (RAN) guidelines, its selection would also significantly strengthen the quasi-allies’ rapidly intensifying military and defense-industrial ties.
