Tokyo-based OKI has secured a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to supply advanced towed passive sonar systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation general-purpose frigates. The agreement, whose financial details remain undisclosed, covers sonar equipment for the first three of 11 improved Mogami-class (06FFM) stealth frigates that Australia ordered from Japan under a multi-billion-dollar naval procurement finalized in April. The contract represents OKI’s first international defense equipment transfer, building on more than nine decades of experience developing underwater acoustic technologies and supporting sonar systems for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Canberra selected MHI’s upgraded 06FFM frigate in 2025 after it outperformed TKMS’ MEKO A-200 design in the General Purpose Frigate competition. The vessels are intended to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigates and will undertake escort operations, air defense, and anti-surface warfare missions. Construction of the first three ships will take place overseas before production shifts to Western Australia for the remaining vessels. The lead frigate is expected to be delivered by the end of 2029 and enter operational service in 2030. The enlarged 06FFM design incorporates 32 vertical launch cells for long-range missile capability and is being developed with contributions from Rolls-Royce, which will supply MT30 marine gas turbines, and Raytheon, which will provide the SeaRAM close-in defense system.
