Production of the long-lead items for the first of Australia’s Mogami-class frigates has begun in Japan, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has revealed, Austraian Defence Magazine reports.
The news follows a meeting between Minister Conroy and the Japanese Prime Minister’s Special Envoy OUE Sadamasa in Canberra on 9 September.
“Production has already begun on long lead items for our first Mogami, so the construction of our first frigate is already underway,” Conroy told ADM.
“And at the same time, we’re working on the industrial transfer so that production of the Mogami-class will transfer over to Australia.”
Australia is acquiring 11 under Defence’s Project Sea 3000 (General Purpose Frigate) program, with the first three vessels being constructed at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ historic naval dockyard in Nagasaki.
The first vessel is expected to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029 and will enter service in 2030. The third and final Japanese-built ship will enter service in 2034.
Following the successful completion of the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia and satisfactory progress on the delivery of Landing Craft Medium (LCM) and Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels for the Australian Army, Austal will commence construction of the remaining seven Mogami-class frigates early next decade.
