Australia pre-selects Japan and Germany for Anzac-class frigate replacement program.

According to information published by ABC on November 7, 2024, Australia has shortlisted Japan and Germany for its ambitious multi-billion-dollar warship program, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s naval strategy. The Australian government recently narrowed down its options to Japan's upgraded Mogami 30FFM frigate and Germany's MEKO A-200 design for its new fleet of General Purpose Frigates (GPF).
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Royal Australian Navy's Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat. (Picture source: Australian DoD)

The program, worth approximately $11 billion over the next decade, is expected to deliver up to 11 advanced warships to replace the ageing Anzac-class fleet, with the initial three vessels to be built overseas and subsequent construction transferred to Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.

Australia’s Department of Defence has meticulously evaluated proposals from a diverse field of international shipbuilders, including South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries, Spain’s Navantia, and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). However, only the designs from Japan and Germany have advanced to this final stage, following a recent decision by the cabinet's National Security Committee (NSC).

The German contender, the MEKO A-200, is a modernized version of the Anzac-class frigate. This modular vessel is expected to meet Australian requirements more easily and at a lower cost than Japan’s Mogami-class. Meanwhile, the Mogami 30FFM, known for its cutting-edge capabilities, is regarded as one of the most advanced frigate designs globally. Although Japan is becoming a critical strategic ally for Australia, it has limited experience in exporting naval vessels.

Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond, Australia’s Chief of Navy, has previously lauded Japan’s shipbuilding prowess, though other military officials lean towards Germany’s MEKO design due to Australia’s familiarity with German-built vessels. In a bid to bolster its proposal, Japan has reportedly offered to purchase Naval Strike Missiles from a soon-to-be-built Australian factory, though this offer has yet to be publicly confirmed.

The SEA 3000 program aims to deliver the first GPF in 2029, with the Australian government anticipating a budget of between $7 billion and $11 billion for the decade-long initiative. Building the initial warships overseas marks a significant departure from Australia’s historical practice of local warship construction, with only a handful of larger vessels built abroad in the past fifty years.

The selection of Japan and Germany’s frigate designs will soon be officially announced, with senior Australian defense officials expected to travel to all bidding nations to inform them of Australia’s decision formally.