“This decision was made based on what was the best capability for Australia,” he added.
“We do have a very close strategic alignment with Japan.”
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded the tender over Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
“This is Japan’s largest defence export deal since 1945 with a non-U.S. partner,” said Yee Kuang Heng from the University of Tokyo’s Security Studies Unit.
“And only the second since Tokyo loosened its guidelines on defence exports in 2014, which led to exports of air surveillance radar to the Philippines.”
According to AFP, Heng said the deal was a “massive shot in the arm” for Japan as it sought to strengthen its defence manufacturing industry.
Three of the frigates will be built in Japan, with the first scheduled to be operational Australia in 2030, and the remaining eight due for construction in Australia.
AFP contributed to this story