Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and German firm Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems are now eligible to secure a contract for designing future general-purpose frigates for Australia.
The Australian Ministry of Defence formally announced the down-selection on Monday. Earlier, the Australian Financial Review reported that the Albanese government has narrowed down the list of contractors eligible for the contract, excluding three other companies: South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries and Spain’s Navantia.
Mitsubishi Heavy and Thyssenkrupp Marine are expected to continue collaborating with the defense ministry and local businesses to further develop their proposed designs, which are anticipated to be based on the Mogami and MEKO A-200 warships.
In response to the development, Australian Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy commended the progress made in bringing the new frigates to reality.
“The rapid, accelerated work of the general-purpose frigate program to date underpins the next stages of the acquisition to ensure this capability is delivered this decade, providing our Navy with enhanced anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capabilities,” he said.
The new frigates form part of the Albanese government’s up to $55 billion investment spread over a decade to improve the Royal Australian Navy’s surface combatant capabilities by replacing its aging Anzac-class frigates.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted the significance of the government investing in new vessels.
“Navy’s future fleet will constitute the largest number of surface combatants since World War II and will be integral to ensuring the safety and security of our sea lines of communication and maritime trade,” the deputy premier said.