- Australia Narrows Down Bidders for $11 Billion Frigate Contract in Indo-Pacific Defense Push
Australia has shortlisted two international defense giants for its ambitious AUD $11 billion (USD $7.24 billion) General Purpose Frigate (GPF) contract. The contract, part of Australia’s Project Sea-3000, aims to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s aging Anzac-class frigates with modern, multipurpose warships suited to an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific theater.
According to sources reported by ABC News, the cabinet’s National Security Committee (NSC) narrowed the competition down to Japan’s upgraded Mogami 30FFM from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Germany’s MEKO A-200 frigate, designed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Both models have garnered significant interest from Canberra for their advanced capabilities and strategic alignments with Australia’s defense objectives.
A final decision on the GPF design is expected in 2025 after further evaluations of both bids. This selection will set the foundation for Australia’s increased maritime strength, particularly as it faces escalating tensions with China and growing responsibilities as a key ally of the United States in the Pacific.
Australia’s decision to launch Project Sea-3000 came as a response to the 2023 Defense Strategic Review (DSR), which underscored the need to double the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) major surface fleet to better counter potential threats. The plan called for eleven new general-purpose frigates to fill a “Tier-2” capability, complementing the “Tier-1” fleet of larger, more specialized warships like the Hobart-class destroyers and Hunter-class frigates.
In line with the DSR’s recommendations, the Australian government unveiled a ten-year, AUD $17.4 billion (USD $11.1 billion) naval modernization effort to increase its fleet size and defensive reach, marking Australia’s largest maritime expansion since World War II. The GPF program is a cornerstone of this plan, providing smaller, versatile frigates that will serve multiple roles in coastal defense, anti-submarine warfare, and alliance operations across the Indo-Pacific.
“Expanding our naval fleet with adaptable, combat-ready vessels is essential to meet the diverse threats we face today,” said Defense Minister Richard Marles in a statement earlier this year. “With the GPF program, Australia is taking a critical step in creating a versatile fleet that reflects our unique security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”
The GPF program initially attracted bids from several major players, including Spain’s Navantia and South Korean shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries. However, after months of careful review, Australia’s NSC shortlisted Japan’s upgraded Mogami 30FFM and Germany’s MEKO A-200 based on their alignment with the RAN’s technical and operational needs.
TKMS’s MEKO A-200 frigate offers a modular design that aligns well with the RAN’s existing infrastructure and operational requirements. The MEKO A-200 shares key design elements with the Anzac-class frigates, which the RAN has operated for decades, offering a more seamless integration with existing Australian naval assets. Germany’s reputation as a reliable exporter of advanced, adaptable warships has also bolstered its bid’s credibility.
The MEKO A-200’s modular structure allows it to accommodate Australian systems like the locally developed CEA radar and 9LV combat management system, both essential to the RAN’s technological framework. The ship’s design also offers cost advantages, with the MEKO A-200 projected to be more budget-friendly than Japan’s upgraded Mogami 30FFM, making it attractive from a financial perspective.
MHI’s upgraded Mogami 30FFM, a significantly enhanced version of Japan’s Mogami-class frigate, is a contender with advanced munitions capacity and robust anti-air capabilities. While Japan is not a well-established exporter of naval vessels, it has demonstrated impressive shipbuilding prowess, which has garnered interest from Australia as it seeks to bolster ties with Tokyo amid rising concerns over China’s regional ambitions.
One of the key appeals of the upgraded Mogami is its cutting-edge anti-air warfare system and enhanced weapons capacity, which provide operational advantages for high-stakes missions in contested waters. Popular defense analyst Alex Luck recently commented on X (formerly Twitter), “As expected, Upgraded Mogami, not the current Mogami-class, goes up against MEKO A-200. Note: Upgraded Mogami/New FFM and Mogami/30FFM are two quite different designs. Only 30FFM exists so far.”
Further, Japan has reportedly offered a “sweetener” to Canberra in the form of a future commitment to purchase Naval Strike Missiles manufactured by Australia. This pledge, if fulfilled, would mark a significant step in defense cooperation between the two countries.
Project Sea-3000 is set to commence with the acquisition of the first three frigates from a foreign yard by 2029, a milestone in itself, as it will be Australia’s first foreign naval ship purchase in nearly 50 years. Following this, the remaining eight frigates are scheduled to be constructed domestically at Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, aligning with Australia’s goal to build a more self-reliant defense industrial base.
The GPFs will join an evolving fleet that includes a reduced number of Hunter-class frigates, now capped at six vessels, as part of a shift towards a more diversified mix of smaller, cost-effective combatants. Additionally, the RAN plans to deploy six optionally crewed surface ships in partnership with the United States. These vessels will house 32 Vertical Launch Missile System (VLS) cells, a feature enhancing Australia’s capacity to project power at a distance.
Australia’s GPF acquisition is a direct response to heightened competition in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s rapid military expansion has altered the region’s strategic balance. The DSR referred to China’s build-up as “the largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of the Second World War,” underscoring the urgency for Australia to strengthen its defense posture.
Australia’s geographic position—straddling three oceans and on the doorstep of critical trade routes—makes it a strategic ally of the United States and a key player in the Pacific alliance network. Canberra’s bolstered naval forces are designed to reinforce this alliance structure, especially in scenarios involving potential conflict or crises in the Asia-Pacific.
China’s recent engagement with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) has only added to Canberra’s concerns. For decades, these islands were within Australia’s sphere of influence. China’s assertive presence in the region has prompted Australia to reaffirm its defense commitments, particularly as the PICs hold strategic maritime significance that could be leveraged in future conflicts.
Australia’s GPF program, alongside investments in uncrewed surface vessels, advanced missile capabilities, and nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership, represents what analysts are calling a “naval renaissance.” This ambitious build-up is not only about countering China but also about securing Australia’s sovereign interests across the Indo-Pacific, enhancing its role as a regional power capable of safeguarding its maritime domains and supporting allies in a time of heightened instability.
As Rear Admiral Sanjoy Roye (retired) recently remarked, “These [GPF] vessels would add a lower-end combatant capability to the future RAN fleet mix. They will serve as a replacement for the eight 1990s-legacy ANZAC-class multi-role frigates.” Australia’s transitional upgrade of several Anzac-class ships as part of the planned Transition Capability Assurance Program (TransCAP) reflects this goal of maintaining a versatile force.
With Australia’s decision expected next year, defense experts will closely monitor which of the two frontrunners, the MEKO A-200 or upgraded Mogami 30FFM, will emerge as the preferred choice. Regardless of the outcome, the selection will be a turning point, heralding a new era for the Royal Australian Navy.
