An illustration showing the upgraded Mogami warship (left) next to the current model. (Supplied: Japanese Self Defence Force)
In short:
Tokyo is stepping up its campaign to win a lucrative Australian naval contract by pledging to give "priority" to warship exports over its own navy.
Japan's defence chief says if his country's upgraded Mogami design is chosen, it will enhance cooperation and interoperability with Australia and the United States.
What's next?
A Mogami warship is expected to visit Australia in February as Defence assesses rival offerings from Japan and Germany.
Japan's defence chief says Australia could receive the first of his country's new and upgraded Mogami warships ahead of his own navy, if the cutting-edge design is selected for a $10 billion contract.
As the Department of Defence evaluates rival bids from Japan and Germany, the ABC can reveal a current version of the Mogami is likely to visit Australia next month, with Tokyo linking its pitch to greater "trilateral cooperation" alongside the United States.
Australia wants to quickly replace its aging ANZAC-class fleet from 2029 with either Japan's upgraded Mogami built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, or Germany's MEKO 200 constructed by ThyssenKrupp-Marine systems.
In a rare interview with a foreign media outlet, General Yoshihide Yoshida outlined how the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) would give "priority" to Australia if the Mogami was selected for the massive general purpose frigate (GPF) project.
Under current plans, the JMSDF expects to receive the first of the 12 new upgraded Mogami warships in 2027, with Japan previously guaranteeing delivery of the third in the series to the Australian Navy in 2029.
"The JMSDF has already made it clear that if the priority is to field this upgraded version of Mogami to Australia, [it] comes first," General Yoshida said during an interview at Japan's defence headquarters in Tokyo.
"[If that happens] then JMSDF is going to postpone its program to field this ship, so priority is to let Australia have that upgraded version," he told the ABC, speaking through a translator.
General Yoshihide Yoshida during a visit to Canberra last year. (Supplied: Australian Defence Force)
Unlike previous Defence programs, companies vying for the GPF contract (known as Project SEA3000) have been strictly prohibited from discussing details of their bids or face possible criminal prosecution and expulsion from the competition.
Despite the secrecy, the ABC has confirmed Defence is currently evaluating three options: the upgraded Mogami, the MEKO 200, as operated by Egypt, or an "Australianised" MEKO 200 with a SAAB 9LV combat management system.
General Yoshida told the ABC that if Australia selected the Japanese Mogami option it could also enhance military cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region, including alongside the US Navy.
"I am sure that trilateral Japan, Australia and US interoperability will be certainly enhanced by the introduction of the Mogami, for sure," General Yoshida said in support of his country's bid for the lucrative SEA 3000 project.
"It's not just a viewpoint of exporting defence equipment but it has such a huge strategic significance and also interoperability — enhancing the interoperability, it has a greater significance.
"Enhancing that interoperability is going to influence the entire Indo-Pacific region because our trilateral interoperability will be the core of the upholding of peace and stability in this region."
Plans for 'ninja' warship to visit Australia
Last month the ABC was invited to inspect a current version of the Mogami FFM frigate being operated by the JMSDF, the first time a foreign media representative was allowed on board the advanced Japanese warship.
Speaking on board the JS Mogami, which is based at Japan's Yokosuka Naval Base, Rear Admiral Touri Sasaki explained that the frigate launched in 2022 featured a stealthy design with advanced automation to reduce crew size.
"The biggest mission for the Mogami is to protect the lives of the crew, which is what we call survivability — the number of members of the JMSDF is so small that we cannot lose any sailor, we cannot lose in combat," he said.
"So, we have to make sure that this ship can protect their lives and that members are ready for the fight, and after that, then we have to make sure that we are ready to sneak into the enemy's territory and then attack like a ninja."
In an interview on board the JS Mogami, officials said the frigate features a stealthy design with advanced automation to reduce crew size. (Supplied: Japanese Self Defence Force)
The upgraded Mogami will feature 32 Mk 41 VLS cells for launching weapons, up from 16, as well as the existing circular combat information centre that can track the movement of all crew members on board via an electronic wristband.
Australian Defence officials have told the ABC they are expecting a Japanese Mogami FFM frigate to head to Australia during February for exercises off Darwin and Western Australia, although planning for the event has not been finalised.
The department declined to confirm the visit when contacted by the ABC, and the Japanese military and government have also refused to comment on any plans to showcase the Mogami warship in Australia.
Andrew Greene travelled to Tokyo as a guest of the Foreign Press Centre Japan.
