Australia, Japan, and the United States have signed their first trilateral agreement aimed at enhancing logistics coordination and interoperability for maritime operations.
The agreement focuses on improving the exchange of information, technology, and operational procedures to support joint missions more effectively, both in routine deployments and during emergencies.
It also emphasizes integrated logistics planning for naval exercises, covering areas such as ship and aircraft repairs, airfield restoration, and medical evacuations. The U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy already collaborate bilaterally in missile reloading and at-sea refueling.
This new pact builds on those foundations, strengthening joint operational capabilities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command is advancing the development of prototype systems for transferring missile canisters between ships, even under challenging sea conditions. These systems are compatible with MK-41 vertical launchers used across U.S. and allied fleets, with further testing expected in 2025 and 2026.
The agreement also builds on previous missile rearming collaborations between the U.S. and Australian navies in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, replenishment ships from all three nations routinely refuel one another during joint missions and exercises.
