Australia, Japan Ink $10 Billion Frigate Deal

0:00It's April 26th. This is Adelaide News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Australia just inked a multi-billion dollar deal with Japan for three upgraded Mogami class frigates from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to beef up the Royal Australian Navy. This comes as Tokyo rolls out as biggest defense export shake-up in decades, easing old pacifist restrictions to sell more arms across Asia. The plan calls for 11 frigates total, with the next eight built right here in Australia at the Henderson Shipyards in Western Australia. To pan-handed this off after years of policy tweaks, starting back in 2014, Amy to team up with allies amidst shaky supplies from the US. Experts like Alex Pristo from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute see this as a blueprint for Japan to build a web of defense partners, kinda, like the F-35 fighter network. Studies such as New Zealand, Indonesia, and even India are eyeing Mogami ships too,

1:00putting Australia at the center of a potential regional supply, chain. Doubt's linger on whether our shipbuilders can handle the complex builds starting next decade, but Western Australia could still shine as a maintenance, hub, closer to key partners, and farther from hot spots like China's first island chain. Japan and Australia are also linking up on drones and other tech through new memos. Meanwhile, with wars draining US stocks and nations like the Philippines knocking on Tokyo's door, Japan's gearing up for more deals, even as tensions, simmer with China over Taiwan and sea routes. This ship could redefine how we all stock up for security in the Indo-Pacific.