Australia announces USD 6.5 bn deal to buy advanced warships from Japan

Canberra, Aug. 12 -- Australia has announced a USD 6.5 billion deal to buy advanced warships from Japan, a move that can go a long way to making Canberra a Pacific maritime power and Tokyo a major weapons exporter, analysts say.

The Australian Defense Ministry said it will buy 11 of Japan's Mogami-class frigates, stealthy, state-of-the-art surface combatants that analysts say are equal to - or in some repects better than - anything China or even the United States is putting in the water, reports CNN.

The Australian Defense Ministry said the first three warships will be built in Japan and the remaining eight in Australia.

While announcing the deal with a fellow member of the US-led Quad defence group last week, Australia's Minister for De...