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Japan and Australia expand defense ties through missile testing and naval deals
Japan and Australia are significantly deepening their defense ties through new agreements on missile testing and naval procurement. During a meeting in Canberra, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that Japan will be permitted to use Australian missile ranges to test various technologies, including hypersonic missiles, over the next decade.
This cooperation includes the ‘Boobook’ project, a joint effort to develop laser systems for detecting threats on land and coastal platforms. Furthermore, Australia is moving forward with a major defense contract to acquire Upgraded Mogami-class stealth frigates from Japan, a deal valued at approximately 10 billion Australian dollars. The first of these vessels is expected to arrive by 2029.
In a separate diplomatic effort, Defense Minister Koizumi is also engaging with India to discuss defense equipment, military technology, and maritime security. These moves signal a strategic shift as Japan seeks to strengthen defense-industrial ties with regional partners like Australia and India to enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Entities
Australia · India · Japan · Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Richard Marles · Shinjiro Koizumi
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The two nations are collaborating on a defense project named ‘Boobook’ to develop a joint laser system for detecting threats. www.arabnews.jp
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Japanese Defense Minister welcomed the agreement to conduct hypersonic missile tests in Australia. www.arabnews.jp · www.bhaskarhindi.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is visiting India to discuss defense cooperation, including the UNICORN stealth communication system. samacharnama.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Japan will be able to use Australian missile ranges for testing various programs, including hypersonic missiles, over the next decade. www.arabnews.jp · www.bhaskarhindi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Australia has agreed to a defense deal to acquire a fleet of Japanese Upgraded Mogami-class stealth frigates costing 10 billion Australian dollars. www.arabnews.jp · www.aspistrategist.org.au