Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles after holding a joint press conference with the Minister of Defense of Japan Koizumi Shinjiro, in Melbourne, Australia. Rodney Braithwaite/Australian Defence Force
The defence ministers of Australia and Japan have concluded wide-ranging talks by signing contracts for the first 3 of 11 Mogami-class frigates, to be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) at a cost of around AU$10 billion (US$7.4 billion).
The Japanese option was selected last August, beating the German Thyssenkrupp-manufactured TKMS MEKO A-200.
