Japan is undergoing its most significant shift in defence posture since World War II, as Tokyo seeks to shed the constraints of its post-war pacifist constitution and rebuild hard-power capabilities in response to China’s military rise and an uncertain US security guarantee.
The new warships will replace the ageing Anzac-class frigates – two of which have already been retired – amid a regional arms race in response to China’s massive militarisation.
The three ships will be built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; the first is due to be delivered in 2029 and the next two by 2034.
They will have a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and be equipped with a 32-cell vertical launch system, surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles.
The remaining eight ships called for by the fleet review are to be built at the Henderson defence precinct in Western Australia.
The total cost of the general-purpose frigate program remains unclear. Defence’s latest Integrated Investment Plan estimates it will cost $15 billion to $20 billion over the next decade, including about $10 billion for the first three Japan-built frigates and associated up-front program costs.
The frigate purchase is part of a broader shift in the Australian Defence Force away from traditional land warfare towards naval power, including under the AUKUS program.
