Exclusive: Japan Promotes Mogami-Class Japanese Designed Frigate in Australia for First Overseas Naval Contract.

According to information published by the Kyodo News website on June 6, 2025, Japan is actively promoting its Mogami-class multi-mission frigate as a leading contender in Australia's Future Frigate program, which aims to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s aging Anzac-class frigates. A Mogami-class frigate of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) made a high-profile port call in Darwin, Northern Territory, as part of Tokyo’s strategic outreach to showcase its naval shipbuilding capabilities. The initiative reflects Japan’s growing ambitions as a defense exporter and its bid to secure a contract estimated at up to AU$10 billion (US$6.5 billion) over the next decade.
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Japan’s Mogami-class multi-mission frigate is a leading candidate to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigates under a AU$10 billion modernization program. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

In November 2024, the Australian government officially shortlisted Japan’s Mogami-class and Germany’s MEKO A200 frigate as the two final candidates for the program. The decision is part of Canberra’s broader effort to undertake the largest expansion of its navy’s surface combatant fleet since World War II, driven by escalating maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific. A final selection is expected by the end of 2025, with the winning platform slated to be jointly developed and constructed in collaboration with Australian shipbuilding facilities.

Japan’s defense industry, historically restricted under its pacifist post-war constitution, has undergone significant transformation in the past decade. Under revised arms export guidelines, Japan has gradually entered the global defense market, emphasizing high-quality platforms and strategic partnerships. Central to this evolution is its modern naval shipbuilding sector, spearheaded by giants like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan Marine United. These shipyards have invested heavily in automation, digital ship design, and modular construction techniques, which have enabled the efficient production of next-generation warships such as the Mogami-class.

The Mogami-class frigate, officially designated as the 30FFM, is a state-of-the-art multi-mission warship designed and built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in partnership with Japan Marine United (JMU). The class was developed under Japan’s Mid-Term Defense Program to modernize its fleet with a stealthy, highly automated, and versatile surface combatant capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare, anti-air operations, and surface strike missions. The design phase began in the mid-2010s, with the first steel cut in 2019.

The lead ship, JS Mogami (FFM-1), was launched in March 2021 and officially commissioned in April 2022. Since then, multiple ships of the class have entered service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, with a total of 22 frigates planned. This new generation of frigates combines cutting-edge technologies such as an integrated mast, reduced radar cross-section, and modular weapon systems, making it a formidable platform tailored for both high-threat naval engagements and low-intensity maritime security operations.

The Mogami-class frigate, formally designated as the 30FFM, is a cutting-edge multi-mission vessel designed to fulfill a wide range of maritime roles, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-air warfare (AAW), and surface combat operations. At 133 meters in length and displacing around 5,500 tons, the frigate features a stealthy hull design to minimize radar cross-section. It is equipped with a 127mm naval gun, 16-cell vertical launch system (VLS) for surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, a SeaRAM close-in weapon system, advanced integrated mast with multi-function radar, and an SH-60K helicopter hangar. The ship also supports the deployment of unmanned underwater and surface vehicles, enhancing its versatility in modern naval warfare. With a crew of approximately 90 personnel, the frigate emphasizes automation to reduce manning requirements and operational costs.

The Anzac-class frigates currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy were commissioned between 1996 and 2006 as part of a joint program with New Zealand. Based on the German MEKO 200 design, the Anzac-class is a 3,600-ton warship designed primarily for mid-range patrol, escort, and ASW operations. While reliable, the class has become technologically outdated, with limitations in missile capacity, sensor systems, and stealth characteristics. As a result, the Anzac-class is increasingly seen as inadequate in meeting the demands of high-intensity conflict scenarios emerging in the Indo-Pacific.

According to Kyodo News, Japan’s proposal for Australia includes not only the delivery of advanced frigates but also a package of industrial collaboration, training, and potential co-production. Japan is offering to share key technologies and involve Australian shipyards in the assembly process, thereby boosting local defense industry participation. This proposal directly aligns with Canberra’s strategic goal of reinforcing its domestic defense manufacturing base while ensuring technological superiority in future naval operations.

If Japan’s Mogami-class is selected, it would mark a historic milestone as the first major overseas naval contract for a Japanese-designed warship and signal a broader shift in Japan’s role as a proactive security contributor in the Indo-Pacific. It would also deepen the growing defense ties between Tokyo and Canberra, which have strengthened under their Reciprocal Access Agreement and shared commitment to regional stability.