Australia and Japan have finalized a major defense agreement under Project Sea 3000, with Australia acquiring 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, according to Breaking Defense. Three ships will be built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the first expected by 2029, while the remaining eight will later be constructed in Western Australia. The program, estimated to cost up to A$20 billion over the next decade, is Japan’s largest-ever defense export deal and aims to reverse the decline in Australia’s surface combatant fleet.

The upgraded Mogami-class frigates will replace Australia’s aging Anzac-class vessels and introduce advanced automation, combat systems, and improved operational availability. The ships will be equipped with capabilities including ESSM Block 2 missiles, Naval Strike Missiles, torpedoes, and SeaRAM close-in defense systems.

RTX announced that its Raytheon division will provide SeaRAM systems for the new frigates under the SEA 3000 program. The contract includes launchers, test equipment, and technical support for the first three ships, with deliveries beginning in 2028.

SeaRAM combines Phalanx radar and tracking technology with Rolling Airframe Missiles to defend ships against threats such as anti-ship missiles and drones, helping improve interoperability between Australia and allied Indo-Pacific naval forces.