Australia will replace eight Anzac-class frigates with Mogami-class vessels built through a collaboration between Japan and Austal, following a 2025 decision to adopt an upgraded Mogami design.

The Mogami-class brings notable performance gains, including displacement rising to about 6,200 tonnes, length extending to roughly 142 meters, top speeds over 30 knots, and a range up to 10,000 nautical miles for extended Indian Ocean patrols.

Crew requirements drop from 163 on the Anzac to 92 on the Mogami, reflecting higher automation and efficiency.

Delivery will begin with steel-cutting in 2026, first vessels delivered by 2029, and full operational capability for all three ships targeted by 2034, driven by urgent needs identified in a 2023 strategic review.

The Mogami will arm with Naval Strike Missiles and Mk 54 torpedoes, while sharing a 5-inch main gun and MH-60R Seahawk helicopter with the Anzac.

The Mogami-class is a tier-two general-purpose frigate optimized for undersea warfare, offering greater range, speed, hull and system upgrades, four times as many vertical launch cells, and the inclusion of a SeaRAM system compared with the Anzac.

The program involves the first three ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, followed by eight more assembled by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, with a total program cost around $20 billion.

The Mogami will augment Australia’s tier-one fleet, which includes Hobart-class destroyers and planned Hunter-class frigates equipped with the Aegis system for advanced air and missile defense.

This shift moves away from German MEKO-influenced designs toward a Japanese-built platform, signaling evolving Australia–Japan defense ties and strategic priorities.