In April 2026 Australia signed a deal with Japan for 11 new Mogami-class general-purpose frigates The first three ships will be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Japan, with the lead vessel due for delivery in late 2029. The remaining eight will be constructed in Western Australia. Valued at up to A$20 billion, these stealthy, multi-role ~4,800-ton frigates will replace the Anzac-class vessels and form the backbone of the RAN’s Tier 2 surface fleet. Their rapid acquisition shows the urgency of our capability gaps. It is Japan's largest arms deal and marks a historic deepening of Australia-Japan strategic ties.

This comes on top a series of other naval purchases:

* 3 Hobart-class guided-missile destroyers based on Spain’s Navantia F100 design with Aegis combat system.

* 6 Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare frigates based on the British Type 26 design, built by BAE Systems in Osborne, South Australia.

* Up to 8 Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (SEA 1180) for constabulary and patrol roles. Additional variants considered for mine countermeasures/hydrographic duties.

* 6 Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats

* Of course there are the AUKUS subs

* 2 new Supply-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishers (HMAS Supply and Stalwart) They provide fleet replenishment (fuel, ammo, stores)

* Up to 'dozens' of Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV) ie large submarine drones.

* an unknown number of Naval Strike Missiles both for these new vessels and for shore launch.

Overall, by the mid to late 2030s Australia will be cemented as the primary regional naval power able to project and protect our vital sealanes and at least give major adversaries (ie China) cause for pause by threatening their lines of communication through Malacca. That these new vessels are being purchases from Japan, following on from the purchase of the AUKUS subs from the USA and the Hunter class frigates from Britain, shows an increasing integration of western militaries as they face the Chinese threat.

This naval expansion will see Australia sitting as the regional naval hegemon for decades to come.

Great!

"This naval expansion will see Australia sitting as the regional naval hegemon for decades to come."
- Do you actually believe that?

One would hope they are not constructed with the same dodgy Chinese low grade steel that lands on Australian shores at present.

The manning of these proposed vessels will be comical, judged on our out of control immigration from India, the Middle East and North African Muslims. Will they have prayer rooms with call for prayer five times a day one wonders.

Maybe crews of Transvestites and another of Lesbians; and a crew of homosexuals, and last and at the bottom of the crewing list, white straight males…God forbid: Thats of course, if the Christian God is not forbidden from mention.

All of this fantasy will go the way of the Snowy 2.0 scheme, how can it not?

All the above rubbish whilst Australians are homeless and go hungry in the streets.

Trump Derangement Syndrome is coming back to bite itself in the backside.
As Trump abandons America first, more normal supporters abandon Trump, meaning the ones that are left are the most diehard and extreme; the lunatic pro-Israeli core that co-opted MAGA like a cancer doubles down on stupid.

It's a bit like Israel.
The normal people left Israel, what remains is increasingly diehard religious extremists.
Look at Ben G'vir and Smotrich in Israel, and then look at Hegseth and Huckabee in America, they're all religious crazy people.

But I'm sure the Israelis will be heading over to pump up the Democrats donations soon, and we'll go from Pro-Israel right causes, back to Pro-Israel left causes.

America will go from Pro-Genocide back to Pro-Transgender / Pro-Immigrants
Democracy is truly the march of the moron.

I think I've come to realise I'm neither left or right,
But more anti-lunatic fringe of either party.
Which is interesting, because you all think that I'm the lunatic anti-semite, and I also did previously support Hanson.
I'm a person of individual policy positions, not loyalty to any mob.