Australia signs contract for first three Mogami-class frigates

A model of the Improved Mogami class on display at Indo Pacific 2025. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Australia has formally signed contracts for its first three general purpose frigates, marking a key transition point in the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) surface combatant renewal programme from selection to execution.

In a joint statement released on 18 April, Australia's Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the contracts were finalised with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the delivery of the first three ships, which are based on an upgraded version of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami-class frigate.

The contract signing follows Australia's August 2025 decision to select the upgraded Mogami design as the preferred platform for its general purpose frigate programme.

While the earlier decision confirmed the winning design, the April announcement locks in the first tranche of ships and formally commits the programme to construction.

Under the arrangement, the first three frigates will be built in Japan, with subsequent vessels intended to be constructed in Western Australia, subject to consolidation of the Henderson Defence Precinct.

The Australian frigates will be fitted with a 32-cell vertical launch system. The vessels will also be armed with surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles, and will be capable of operating the RAN's MH‑60R Seahawk maritime combat helicopter.

No details were given on the missile types, but Janes reported in November 2025 that the Australian frigates are being built to accommodate the Naval Strike Missile (NSM).

Other ship specifications provided in the joint statement include an operating range of around 10,000 n miles and a crew complement of 92.