Australia has selected Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) as the preferred builder of the Royal Australian Navy’s next generation of frigates, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced. The choice ends a close contest that pitted MHI’s upgraded Mogami-class design against Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Canberra and Tokyo will now negotiate a contract worth an estimated US$6.5 billion to as much as US$10 billion for as many as 11 vessels. Under current planning, the first three frigates will be constructed in Japan, with the remaining eight assembled in Western Australia; the government aims to finalise the agreements by the end of the year. The program will replace Australia’s ageing ANZAC-class ships and is intended to fill a capability gap before the larger Hunter-class enters service in the 2030s. MHI’s proposal offers greater firepower and a smaller crew than its rivals, which officials say will help relieve personnel pressures on the fleet. For Japan, the award marks the country’s first export of a warship and deepens security cooperation with Australia as both governments seek to strengthen maritime deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.