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Sydney Morning Herald
29-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Japan's Mogami frigate ship: A $10b deal about more than defence
, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Giant cranes dot the coastline near Nagasaki, the ancient port city in south-western Japan that became famous as the second, and last, place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb during wartime. The heavy machinery, nestled in narrow bays beneath steep and forested hills, is a testament to the area's maritime heritage, which began hundreds of years ago when Europeans first made contact in Japan. Nagasaki's history is tied to the slip yards and giant hangars that since the mid-1850s have built and launched ships, including for the Japanese navy. Indeed, a reason the city was chosen in August 1945 as the target of the United States' Fat Man nuclear explosive was its productive shipbuilding and munitions factories. Next month one of the Japanese navy's newest vessels will be launched with much fanfare by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. MHI, a vast corporate conglomerate with operations as diverse as air-conditioning and aerospace, pumps out ships with a relentless efficiency that some Western shipbuilders can only hope to emulate. And while this warship's launch will be just one of many in the country's continuous shipbuilding program, in Japan and Australia, important eyes will be watching. Rolling off the production line will be Japan's 11th Mogami frigate. The high-tech warships look eerily slick and have smooth surfaces. (It's a stealth measure, but more on that later.) The new boat will be named after a river or a mountain, in the Japanese tradition, and will eventually join the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, as the nation's navy is now known. The Mogami has smooth surfaces and little equipment on deck, which gives it stealth bomber vibes. Credit: MHI The intense interest in Japan's Mogami has come about because Australia is about to spend $10 billion on a new fleet of 11 general-purpose frigates, known as the SEA3000 project, and MHI is locked in a battle with the German boatbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to be the provider. Australia's plan is to acquire this fleet of frigates quickly to help replace the Anzac-class frigates, which are approaching the end of their service, and fill the gap before eventual arrival of Australia's larger Hunter-class heavy frigate, expected in 2032. The decision to go with the Japanese Mogami or the German MEKO A-200 will be made by the Albanese government by the end of this year. To keep the timeline tight, the first three ships will be made overseas, with the next eight to be built in Australia. The first ship will be delivered in 2029. Master and commander Atsushi Izumi has been the commander of a Mogami frigate and is the naval officer tasked with giving me a technical briefing on the ship's capabilities. Speaking through an interpreter, he says the first thing he noticed on taking command was the ship's lower crew numbers. 'When I first had the opportunity and started working on the vessel, my impression is that there's been a lot of automation and also considerable reduction of manpower,' he says. He says Mogami needs only 90 crew, while other frigates require about 120. The first thing that struck Commander Atsushi Izumi about the Mogami frigates was how few crew were needed in comparison with other vessels. Central to the reduction in numbers, he explains, is a nerve centre within the ship called the Combat Information Centre (CIC), which controls a number of functions that used to be shared among many teams and locations. I'm shown a diagram of circle surrounded by screens, and Izumi says this hub controls multiple systems, including weapons, fire control, engine and communications. Everything has been 'concentrated' in this area, so fewer crew are needed. It is a briefing thick with acronyms as he runs through the technical capabilities and weapons functions. I glean that the Mogami is both a mine sweeper and a mine layer, largely automated and equipped with unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. 'Again, because of that quality, because they are unmanned, humans do not have to go to the mine area, so from a considerable distance, they can fulfil their mission,' Izumi says. Izumi is keen to speak about the stealth aspects of the ship, which aesthetically gives off mild B2 bomber vibes. 'The design is done in such a way that radar cross-section has been reduced. So the design, you'll notice, normally, there is a lot of this equipment on deck, but all that has been internalised,' he says. There's a general discussion about the frigate's exhaust, which is spread out in vents instead of a funnel and therefore reduces its heat signature for infrared. Mentioned also is its 'unicorn' mast, which possesses stealth capabilities. The Mogami's weapons systems include surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) and a missile self-defence system (SEARAM), while an 'upgraded' Mogami, which is the design Australia would acquire, will have 32 vertical launch system missile cells (VLS). It also fits a Seahawk helicopter. One slightly spooky aspect of the ship is that each crew member wears a sensor, like a smartwatch, that monitors their locations and vital signs, and sends information to watchers who can tell where they are, what they're doing, and whether they are alive or dead. Exporting defence technology is a relatively new thing in Japan. Article 9 of the nation's postwar constitution explicitly renounced war, and for many decades Japan was considered pacifist. Its land, sea and air forces to this day retain the title of 'self-defence forces'. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his second term in office, pushed for a more robust military and a 'proactive' approach to peace. From 2013, he introduced laws that upgraded the defence ministry and the national security architecture, and led the country to pursue more advanced defence technologies. 'Basically, we haven't changed the meaning of self-defence, but we changed the interpretation,' says a senior Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs source in a background briefing. Japan now has broader scope to engage in foreign conflicts for what it calls the collective self-defence of the nation and allies. There's more defence co-ordination and joint exercises with the US and a group they consider like-minded nations, which includes Australia. These 'mini-lateral' relationships in the region are a key pillar of Japan's security plans. The Niyodo Mogami frigate in Nagasaki in May this year. Credit: MHI In short, Japan's military has muscled up. The reason is what Tokyo's national security officials describe as 'the most severe and complex environment since the end of World War II'. Three nations are singled out for the changed security environment: China, North Korea and Russia. Japan sees China as a rapidly expanding military power with territorial ambitions in the South China and East China Seas, not least the Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands), which Japan holds. North Korea pushes its nuclear program and missile activity while Russia is accelerating military activities in East Asia. In recent years, Japan has spent more on defence. A lot more. It has a target of 2 per cent of GPD by 2027. A senior Japanese defence official expects a five-year total defence budget of 43 trillion yen (about $430 billion). The Mogami program is a good example of how some of that capital is being deployed. Between 2019 and 2034, Japan will build and deliver a remarkable 24 ships. And so, within about 10 years, Japan has gone from largely pacifist to a military technology exporter. Natural partners The modern Mogami frigate is named after a river in north-eastern Honshu, Japan's main island. It's not the first Japanese naval vessel to carry this name. In the 1930s, a heavy cruiser called Mogami featured in the Imperial Japanese Navy and was later sunk in World War II. Major General Yuki Sakata, spokesman for the Japanese Self-Defence Force in Tokyo. Credit: David King
Sydney Morning Herald
28-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside the futuristic Japanese warship that could change the face of the Australian navy
Giant cranes dot the coastline near Nagasaki, the ancient port city in south-western Japan that became famous as the second, and last, place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb during wartime. The heavy machinery, nestled in narrow bays beneath steep and forested hills, is a testament to the area's maritime heritage, which began hundreds of years ago when Europeans first made contact in Japan. Nagasaki's history is tied to the slip yards and giant hangars that since the mid-1850s have built and launched ships, including for the Japanese navy. Indeed, a reason the city was chosen in August 1945 as the target of the United States' Fat Man nuclear explosive was its productive shipbuilding and munitions factories. Next month one of the Japanese navy's newest vessels will be launched with much fanfare by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. MHI, a vast corporate conglomerate with operations as diverse as air-conditioning and aerospace, pumps out ships with a relentless efficiency that some Western shipbuilders can only hope to emulate. And while this warship's launch will be just one of many in the country's continuous shipbuilding program, in Japan and Australia, important eyes will be watching. Rolling off the production line will be Japan's 11th Mogami frigate. The high-tech warships look eerily slick and have smooth surfaces. (It's a stealth measure, but more on that later.) The new boat will be named after a river or a mountain, in the Japanese tradition, and will eventually join the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, as the nation's navy is now known. The intense interest in Japan's Mogami has come about because Australia is about to spend $10 billion on a new fleet of 11 general-purpose frigates, known as the SEA3000 project, and MHI is locked in a battle with the German boatbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to be the provider. Australia's plan is to acquire this fleet of frigates quickly to help replace the Anzac-class frigates, which are approaching the end of their service, and fill the gap before eventual arrival of Australia's larger Hunter-class heavy frigate, expected in 2032. The decision to go with the Japanese Mogami or the German MEKO A-200 will be made by the Albanese government by the end of this year. To keep the timeline tight, the first three ships will be made overseas, with the next eight to be built in Australia. The first ship will be delivered in 2029. Master and commander Atsushi Izumi has been the commander of a Mogami frigate and is the naval officer tasked with giving me a technical briefing on the ship's capabilities. Speaking through an interpreter, he says the first thing he noticed on taking command was the ship's lower crew numbers. 'When I first had the opportunity and started working on the vessel, my impression is that there's been a lot of automation and also considerable reduction of manpower,' he says. He says Mogami needs only 90 crew, while other frigates require about 120. Central to the reduction in numbers, he explains, is a nerve centre within the ship called the Combat Information Centre (CIC), which controls a number of functions that used to be shared among many teams and locations. I'm shown a diagram of circle surrounded by screens, and Izumi says this hub controls multiple systems, including weapons, fire control, engine and communications. Everything has been 'concentrated' in this area, so fewer crew are needed. It is a briefing thick with acronyms as he runs through the technical capabilities and weapons functions. I glean that the Mogami is both a mine sweeper and a mine layer, largely automated and equipped with unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. 'Again, because of that quality, because they are unmanned, humans do not have to go to the mine area, so from a considerable distance, they can fulfil their mission,' Izumi says. Izumi is keen to speak about the stealth aspects of the ship, which aesthetically gives off mild B2 bomber vibes. 'The design is done in such a way that radar cross-section has been reduced. So the design, you'll notice, normally, there is a lot of this equipment on deck, but all that has been internalised,' he says. There's a general discussion about the frigate's exhaust, which is spread out in vents instead of a funnel and therefore reduces its heat signature for infrared. Mentioned also is its 'unicorn' mast, which possesses stealth capabilities. The Mogami's weapons systems include surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) and a missile self-defence system (SEARAM), while an 'upgraded' Mogami, which is the design Australia would acquire, will have 32 vertical launch system missile cells (VLS). It also fits a Seahawk helicopter. One slightly spooky aspect of the ship is that each crew member wears a sensor, like a smartwatch, that monitors their locations and vital signs, and sends information to watchers who can tell where the submariners are, what they're doing, and whether they are alive or dead. Self-defence to regional defender Exporting defence technology is a relatively new thing in Japan. Article 9 of the nation's postwar constitution explicitly renounced war, and for many decades Japan was considered pacifist. Its land, sea and air forces to this day retain the title of 'self-defence forces'. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his second term in office, pushed for a more robust military and a 'proactive' approach to peace. From 2013, he introduced laws that upgraded the defence ministry and the national security architecture, and led the country to pursue more advanced defence technologies. 'Basically, we haven't changed the meaning of self-defence, but we changed the interpretation,' says a senior Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs source in a background briefing. Japan now has broader scope to engage in foreign conflicts for what it calls the collective self-defence of the nation and allies. There's more defence co-ordination and joint exercises with the US and a group they consider like-minded nations, which includes Australia. These 'mini-lateral' relationships in the region are a key pillar of Japan's security plans. In short, Japan's military has muscled up. The reason is what Tokyo's national security officials describe as 'the most severe and complex environment since the end of World War II'. Three nations are singled out for the changed security environment: China, North Korea and Russia. Japan sees China as a rapidly expanding military power with territorial ambitions in the South China and East China Seas, not least the Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands), which Japan holds. North Korea pushes its nuclear program and missile activity while Russia is accelerating military activities in East Asia. In recent years, Japan has spent more on defence. A lot more. It has a target of 2 per cent of GPD by 2027. A senior Japanese defence official expects a five-year total defence budget of 43 trillion yen (about $430 billion). The Mogami program is a good example of how some of that capital is being deployed. Between 2019 and 2034, Japan will build and deliver a remarkable 24 ships. And so, within about 10 years, Japan has gone from largely pacifist to a military technology exporter. Natural partners The modern Mogami frigate is named after a river in north-eastern Honshu, Japan's main island. It's not the first Japanese naval vessel to carry this name. In the 1930s, a heavy cruiser called Mogami featured in the Imperial Japanese Navy and was later sunk in World War II. I'm meeting with one of Japan's senior military figures, Major-General Yuki Sakata, the spokesman for Japan's armed forces. I'm keen to ask about the boat and leap straight in with questions about whether Australia should buy them. But Sakata wants to take a step back. 'We are natural partners,' he says. 'Japan and Australia hold a special position as allies. 'And really, countries that are like-minded, that share the same values, it's very important that we are allied in this Indo-Pacific region.' There's no missing his warmth towards Australia. He served with Australians in peacekeeping operation in East Timor, and tells a good story about finding an Australian diplomat in Dili in a tight spot and bundling him into a car and delivering him safely to the embassy. Japan's strong strategic relationship with Australia plays into the frigate equation and its desire to strike a deal with a like-minded nation and increase security in the region. It's an important strategic goal. 'When we look at Mogami and we talk about this particular equipment and what's going to be decided there … if Australia does make that decision to go with us, I think it will also have a very symbolic and significant meaning in the region, and send a message to other nations as well, especially ASEAN countries.' Sakata says Australia and Japan have a quasi-alliance. 'I think there is a possibility that it could become an 'alliance' in the future. We already have a Japan, United States, Australia, it's sort of like a partnership, in place.' He points to many joint military exercises as evidence of this. In July this year, Japan will again join the US and Australia in exercise Talisman Sabre, sending over hundreds of Japanese marines, known as the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, for operations in Queensland. He says that attitudes within Japan have changed towards the military and the defence industry over the years. 'People objected tremendously to the military; thinking about even exporting equipment or anything militaristic was frowned upon with a lot of restrictions,' he says. 'Now, for example, even our Defence Minister Nakatani is almost like our best salesperson. It's a whole different ball game.' Rival bid The German ship builder TKMS fired a rhetorical torpedo at the Mogami program this month when its chief executive, Oliver Burkhard, said: 'I know our competitors. They have never exported in the past.' The broadside hit one of Japan's weak spots. It is an extremely efficient boatbuilder at home, where MHI has a decades-long record of no delays and no broken budgets, but hasn't got the same record of delivering overseas. The German ship, the MEKO A-200 frigate, was a 'wonderful concept' that had 'been proven several times', Burkhard said. 'We know what we're doing.' The company is already deeply experienced in naval shipbuilding in Australia, with the current Anzac-class fleet based on its design. TKMS has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Saab, which makes the combat system already used by Australian warships. Loading Burkhard's comments expose the risk in the Japanese bid. Eight of the frigates are to be built in Australia, so a different approach to construction is needed. Defence officials in Tokyo say they are ready to meet this challenge. But first, a little history. Japan was deeply disappointed when it was the unsuccessful bidder in 2016 for $40 billion submarine contract to replace Australia's Collins-class fleet. It was outflanked late in the piece by the French builder DCNS, which won the deal, until the Morrison government dumped it in favour of the AUKUS submarine pact. Defence industry sources say that Japan's submarine bid suffered from a disconnect between industry and government (government wanted the work, industry less so). This time around, there is a more joined-up approach from the Japanese: cross-government and cross-industry meetings between the private sector and the defence establishment with ministerial involvement; a new agency, ATLA, created for defence acquisitions and technology. Japanese officials say they are already studying Henderson in Western Australia, where the shipbuilding will take place. They plan to bring Australian engineers to Japan to be involved in the first builds, and share technology and training to develop the industrial base in Australia and allow the Mogami to be upgraded and maintained over its 40-year lifespan with sustainable jobs. It's a noble goal. We just need a ship Jennifer Parker, a former naval officer and expert associate at the ANU's National Security College, says the national priority should be to 'just get a ship', with our current fleet in a dire situation. The stakes for Australia are high. Of our 10 surface combatant ships, many are ageing, and will inevitably be in repair or maintenance, leaving only a handful to patrol one of the world's largest exclusive economic zones. Looking at pure capabilities, the Mogami is the better ship, she says. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right ship. 'It's not a question of which is the best ship. It is the question of which ship can we acquire and integrate into our current fleet to have an operational capability as quickly as possible,' she says. She says the answer between the two options isn't clear, based on everything in the public domain. Japan has stronger strategic relationships with Australia and MHI has the backing of its government, while German TKMS have experience working with the Australian shipbuilding industry and have experience exporting ships. She adds that the appetite for modifications will also influence the decision. Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, says our commitment to buying large warships is misplaced. 'There is a role for frigates in the Australian navy, but not for scenarios in which they would face the threat of highly sophisticated anti-ship missiles,' he says. 'Modern warships are simply not survivable against adversaries equipped with missiles and, increasingly, drones.' Loading Whereas his colleague David Vallance, research associate, favours the Mogami. 'I think that the Mogami does make more sense for Australia,' he says. 'The upgraded version that the Japanese propose to sell us will have more VLS cells than the German frigate (32 to 16) and a much smaller crew requirement (around 90 compared to 120). With the RAN continuing to suffer from shortfalls in recruitment and retention, the Mogami offers a greater capability than the MEKO while putting less strain on personnel.' In coming months, the Australian military and government will make the decision, choosing between ships designed by Australia's WWII adversaries. Sakata sees it as a historic moment. 'Through this opportunity … we can perhaps export some of the technology of our warships and the different equipment that we have, and really join hands with a country like Australia. I feel that this would be a tremendous change in the paradigm as we know it, and I think it would really signify again this 80-year point since the war.'
The Age
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Inside the futuristic Japanese warship that could change the face of the Australian navy
Giant cranes dot the coastline near Nagasaki, the ancient port city in south-western Japan that became famous as the second, and last, place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb during wartime. The heavy machinery, nestled in narrow bays beneath steep and forested hills, is a testament to the area's maritime heritage, which began hundreds of years ago when Europeans first made contact in Japan. Nagasaki's history is tied to the slip yards and giant hangars that since the mid-1850s have built and launched ships, including for the Japanese navy. Indeed, a reason the city was chosen in August 1945 as the target of the United States' Fat Man nuclear explosive was its productive shipbuilding and munitions factories. Next month one of the Japanese navy's newest vessels will be launched with much fanfare by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. MHI, a vast corporate conglomerate with operations as diverse as air-conditioning and aerospace, pumps out ships with a relentless efficiency that some Western shipbuilders can only hope to emulate. And while this warship's launch will be just one of many in the country's continuous shipbuilding program, in Japan and Australia, important eyes will be watching. Rolling off the production line will be Japan's 11th Mogami frigate. The high-tech warships look eerily slick and have smooth surfaces. (It's a stealth measure, but more on that later.) The new boat will be named after a river or a mountain, in the Japanese tradition, and will eventually join the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, as the nation's navy is now known. The intense interest in Japan's Mogami has come about because Australia is about to spend $10 billion on a new fleet of 11 general-purpose frigates, known as the SEA3000 project, and MHI is locked in a battle with the German boatbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to be the provider. Australia's plan is to acquire this fleet of frigates quickly to help replace the Anzac-class frigates, which are approaching the end of their service, and fill the gap before eventual arrival of Australia's larger Hunter-class heavy frigate, expected in 2032. The decision to go with the Japanese Mogami or the German MEKO A-200 will be made by the Albanese government by the end of this year. To keep the timeline tight, the first three ships will be made overseas, with the next eight to be built in Australia. The first ship will be delivered in 2029. Master and commander Atsushi Izumi has been the commander of a Mogami frigate and is the naval officer tasked with giving me a technical briefing on the ship's capabilities. Speaking through an interpreter, he says the first thing he noticed on taking command was the ship's lower crew numbers. 'When I first had the opportunity and started working on the vessel, my impression is that there's been a lot of automation and also considerable reduction of manpower,' he says. He says Mogami needs only 90 crew, while other frigates require about 120. Central to the reduction in numbers, he explains, is a nerve centre within the ship called the Combat Information Centre (CIC), which controls a number of functions that used to be shared among many teams and locations. I'm shown a diagram of circle surrounded by screens, and Izumi says this hub controls multiple systems, including weapons, fire control, engine and communications. Everything has been 'concentrated' in this area, so fewer crew are needed. It is a briefing thick with acronyms as he runs through the technical capabilities and weapons functions. I glean that the Mogami is both a mine sweeper and a mine layer, largely automated and equipped with unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. 'Again, because of that quality, because they are unmanned, humans do not have to go to the mine area, so from a considerable distance, they can fulfil their mission,' Izumi says. Izumi is keen to speak about the stealth aspects of the ship, which aesthetically gives off mild B2 bomber vibes. 'The design is done in such a way that radar cross-section has been reduced. So the design, you'll notice, normally, there is a lot of this equipment on deck, but all that has been internalised,' he says. There's a general discussion about the frigate's exhaust, which is spread out in vents instead of a funnel and therefore reduces its heat signature for infrared. Mentioned also is its 'unicorn' mast, which possesses stealth capabilities. The Mogami's weapons systems include surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) and a missile self-defence system (SEARAM), while an 'upgraded' Mogami, which is the design Australia would acquire, will have 32 vertical launch system missile cells (VLS). It also fits a Seahawk helicopter. One slightly spooky aspect of the ship is that each crew member wears a sensor, like a smartwatch, that monitors their locations and vital signs, and sends information to watchers who can tell where the submariners are, what they're doing, and whether they are alive or dead. Self-defence to regional defender Exporting defence technology is a relatively new thing in Japan. Article 9 of the nation's postwar constitution explicitly renounced war, and for many decades Japan was considered pacifist. Its land, sea and air forces to this day retain the title of 'self-defence forces'. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his second term in office, pushed for a more robust military and a 'proactive' approach to peace. From 2013, he introduced laws that upgraded the defence ministry and the national security architecture, and led the country to pursue more advanced defence technologies. 'Basically, we haven't changed the meaning of self-defence, but we changed the interpretation,' says a senior Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs source in a background briefing. Japan now has broader scope to engage in foreign conflicts for what it calls the collective self-defence of the nation and allies. There's more defence co-ordination and joint exercises with the US and a group they consider like-minded nations, which includes Australia. These 'mini-lateral' relationships in the region are a key pillar of Japan's security plans. In short, Japan's military has muscled up. The reason is what Tokyo's national security officials describe as 'the most severe and complex environment since the end of World War II'. Three nations are singled out for the changed security environment: China, North Korea and Russia. Japan sees China as a rapidly expanding military power with territorial ambitions in the South China and East China Seas, not least the Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands), which Japan holds. North Korea pushes its nuclear program and missile activity while Russia is accelerating military activities in East Asia. In recent years, Japan has spent more on defence. A lot more. It has a target of 2 per cent of GPD by 2027. A senior Japanese defence official expects a five-year total defence budget of 43 trillion yen (about $430 billion). The Mogami program is a good example of how some of that capital is being deployed. Between 2019 and 2034, Japan will build and deliver a remarkable 24 ships. And so, within about 10 years, Japan has gone from largely pacifist to a military technology exporter. Natural partners The modern Mogami frigate is named after a river in north-eastern Honshu, Japan's main island. It's not the first Japanese naval vessel to carry this name. In the 1930s, a heavy cruiser called Mogami featured in the Imperial Japanese Navy and was later sunk in World War II. I'm meeting with one of Japan's senior military figures, Major-General Yuki Sakata, the spokesman for Japan's armed forces. I'm keen to ask about the boat and leap straight in with questions about whether Australia should buy them. But Sakata wants to take a step back. 'We are natural partners,' he says. 'Japan and Australia hold a special position as allies. 'And really, countries that are like-minded, that share the same values, it's very important that we are allied in this Indo-Pacific region.' There's no missing his warmth towards Australia. He served with Australians in peacekeeping operation in East Timor, and tells a good story about finding an Australian diplomat in Dili in a tight spot and bundling him into a car and delivering him safely to the embassy. Japan's strong strategic relationship with Australia plays into the frigate equation and its desire to strike a deal with a like-minded nation and increase security in the region. It's an important strategic goal. 'When we look at Mogami and we talk about this particular equipment and what's going to be decided there … if Australia does make that decision to go with us, I think it will also have a very symbolic and significant meaning in the region, and send a message to other nations as well, especially ASEAN countries.' Sakata says Australia and Japan have a quasi-alliance. 'I think there is a possibility that it could become an 'alliance' in the future. We already have a Japan, United States, Australia, it's sort of like a partnership, in place.' He points to many joint military exercises as evidence of this. In July this year, Japan will again join the US and Australia in exercise Talisman Sabre, sending over hundreds of Japanese marines, known as the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, for operations in Queensland. He says that attitudes within Japan have changed towards the military and the defence industry over the years. 'People objected tremendously to the military; thinking about even exporting equipment or anything militaristic was frowned upon with a lot of restrictions,' he says. 'Now, for example, even our Defence Minister Nakatani is almost like our best salesperson. It's a whole different ball game.' Rival bid The German ship builder TKMS fired a rhetorical torpedo at the Mogami program this month when its chief executive, Oliver Burkhard, said: 'I know our competitors. They have never exported in the past.' The broadside hit one of Japan's weak spots. It is an extremely efficient boatbuilder at home, where MHI has a decades-long record of no delays and no broken budgets, but hasn't got the same record of delivering overseas. The German ship, the MEKO A-200 frigate, was a 'wonderful concept' that had 'been proven several times', Burkhard said. 'We know what we're doing.' The company is already deeply experienced in naval shipbuilding in Australia, with the current Anzac-class fleet based on its design. TKMS has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Saab, which makes the combat system already used by Australian warships. Loading Burkhard's comments expose the risk in the Japanese bid. Eight of the frigates are to be built in Australia, so a different approach to construction is needed. Defence officials in Tokyo say they are ready to meet this challenge. But first, a little history. Japan was deeply disappointed when it was the unsuccessful bidder in 2016 for $40 billion submarine contract to replace Australia's Collins-class fleet. It was outflanked late in the piece by the French builder DCNS, which won the deal, until the Morrison government dumped it in favour of the AUKUS submarine pact. Defence industry sources say that Japan's submarine bid suffered from a disconnect between industry and government (government wanted the work, industry less so). This time around, there is a more joined-up approach from the Japanese: cross-government and cross-industry meetings between the private sector and the defence establishment with ministerial involvement; a new agency, ATLA, created for defence acquisitions and technology. Japanese officials say they are already studying Henderson in Western Australia, where the shipbuilding will take place. They plan to bring Australian engineers to Japan to be involved in the first builds, and share technology and training to develop the industrial base in Australia and allow the Mogami to be upgraded and maintained over its 40-year lifespan with sustainable jobs. It's a noble goal. We just need a ship Jennifer Parker, a former naval officer and expert associate at the ANU's National Security College, says the national priority should be to 'just get a ship', with our current fleet in a dire situation. The stakes for Australia are high. Of our 10 surface combatant ships, many are ageing, and will inevitably be in repair or maintenance, leaving only a handful to patrol one of the world's largest exclusive economic zones. Looking at pure capabilities, the Mogami is the better ship, she says. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right ship. 'It's not a question of which is the best ship. It is the question of which ship can we acquire and integrate into our current fleet to have an operational capability as quickly as possible,' she says. She says the answer between the two options isn't clear, based on everything in the public domain. Japan has stronger strategic relationships with Australia and MHI has the backing of its government, while German TKMS have experience working with the Australian shipbuilding industry and have experience exporting ships. She adds that the appetite for modifications will also influence the decision. Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, says our commitment to buying large warships is misplaced. 'There is a role for frigates in the Australian navy, but not for scenarios in which they would face the threat of highly sophisticated anti-ship missiles,' he says. 'Modern warships are simply not survivable against adversaries equipped with missiles and, increasingly, drones.' Loading Whereas his colleague David Vallance, research associate, favours the Mogami. 'I think that the Mogami does make more sense for Australia,' he says. 'The upgraded version that the Japanese propose to sell us will have more VLS cells than the German frigate (32 to 16) and a much smaller crew requirement (around 90 compared to 120). With the RAN continuing to suffer from shortfalls in recruitment and retention, the Mogami offers a greater capability than the MEKO while putting less strain on personnel.' In coming months, the Australian military and government will make the decision, choosing between ships designed by Australia's WWII adversaries. Sakata sees it as a historic moment. 'Through this opportunity … we can perhaps export some of the technology of our warships and the different equipment that we have, and really join hands with a country like Australia. I feel that this would be a tremendous change in the paradigm as we know it, and I think it would really signify again this 80-year point since the war.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Blows Up Internet & Maybe D.C. With Claim That Trump Is In Epstein Files: 'Holy Sh*t'
The war of words and tweets between Donald Trump and his top donor Elon Musk just went nuclear. As the former DOGE chief and POTUS tossed slings and arrows at each other over the president's 'Big Beautiful Bill's' effect on the federal deficit and whether or not the SpaceX owner put the Republican back in power, Musk dropped 'the really big bomb.' After almost over a year connected to Trump at the hip, spending hundreds of millions on his 2024 campaign, and charging through the federal government's inner sanctums like a rabid bull in a China shop, Musk truly went full Little Boy and Fat Man. More from Deadline All-Out Feud Erupts Between Trump And Musk: POTUS Threatens To End Government Contracts, Tesla Titan Invokes Epstein Files – Update Trump Celebrity Supporters: Famous Folks In Favor Of The 47th President Biden Blasts Trump Over "False" Claims That Aides Ran Country During His Presidency; Current POTUS Admits He Has No Proof For Allegation - Update Less than a week after he was literally tossed out of the White House with praise and a golden key, Musk today claimed POTUS 'is in the Epstein files.' With zero evidence, Musk added: 'That is the real reason they have not been made public.' As Trump cancels Musk's billions in government contracts, and Musk says 'Yes' to a post calling for the former Apprentice host to resign and VP JD Vance move into the Oval Office, the reaction to the Epstein remark exploded online – even as Fox News and the rest of the mainstream media essentially ignored it initially. Not that their mutual friend, the Hitler praising man once known as Kanye West stayed mum in remarks no one asked for: Broooos please noooooo 🫂 We love you both so much — ye (@kanyewest) June 5, 2025 Having said that, Trump himself this afternoon ignored questions about Musk's allegation, while attending a law enforcement event with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other administration officials In many ways, UK broadcaster, Trump buddy, and ex-Apprentice Piers Morgan contestant summed it all up with an emoji complimented 'Holy sh*t' Holy sh*t… 😳😳😳😳😳 — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 5, 2025 As Musk's tweet hits over 42 million views in less than an hour, CNN's Kaitlan Collins offered up perhaps the second best response to the implication that the President of the United States, who already is a convicted felon and implicated in a sexual assault, is a pedophile – with even greater brevity. Wow. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 5, 2025 With the $2 trillion in debt that the Big Beautiful Bill is estimated to be poised to add to the already huge federal deficit, Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries was in the 'Wow' game too. is turning into an all out war in MAGA land. For the record, the GOP Tax Scam has been correctly characterized as a disgusting abomination. — Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) June 5, 2025 Another Trump and Musk booster did say the other quiet thing aloud Remember this morning when the big story was Dems piling on Karine Jean-Pierre? — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) June 5, 2025 Collins' CNN colleague Jake Tapper was a bit more polite than Morgan but the sentiment was the same. — Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) June 5, 2025 While it has never been a secret that the now dead and disgraced billionaire Epstein and Trump were party pals back in the 1990s, Trump has always denied he had anything to do with his indicted and arrested friend's disgusting penchant for young girls. Still, inside the Beltway Thursday a swath of other Trump critics got their popcorn ready for the rumble unfolding in near real time. George Conway wrote, 'The opening drive in the Super Bowl of Sociopathy has begun!!' Surprisingly longtime Trump foe, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) wrote of Musk's Epstein claim: 'I can't believe he went there.' Also from the halls of Congress, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) linked to Musk's Epstein post and wrote, 'I called for the full release of the Epstein Files a month ago because of my suspicion that @AGPamBondi was concealing the files to protect Donald Trump. Now my suspicion has been confirmed. Release the #EpsteinFiles now!' Echoing words that usually come from Republicans, fellow Democrat Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) wrote, 'This tweet from Elon Musk shows, again, that I was right: Trump is all over the Epstein files. I urge the Department of Justice to release all the Epstein files. What is the Trump Administration hiding?'Mehdi Hasan observed: 'The funny thing about this is that Musk, by attacking Trump, is admitting that he funded the guy in the Epstein files. Neither of them come out well from this.' Check out some of the other responses to Musk's Trump and Epstein revelation: I didn't expect World War III to start like this. — Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) June 5, 2025 Only took about 2 hours to reach DEFCON Epstein — Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) June 5, 2025 Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) tapped into the sordid reality TV aspect of all this: Only @Andy can solve this — Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) June 5, 2025 On the West Coast, the X-Men '97's ex-boss Beau Mayo took it all MCU. You know how Magneto and Xavier are that couple who make their break-up everybody's problem… Trump and Musk just said 'hold my beer' — Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) June 5, 2025 Mayo wasn't the only Hollywooder enjoying the spectacle or the popcorn: Now, more than ever — The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 5, 2025 — Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) June 5, 2025 — Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 5, 2025 Elon to Trump — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 5, 2025 As Telsa stock took a tumble just before the stock market closed Thursday, Musk had the last-ish word, for now: 🤨 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
India.com
24-05-2025
- General
- India.com
Not Nagasaki, but this city was first target of atom bomb, US changed its decision due to....
Not Nagasaki, but this city was first target of atom bomb, US changed its decision due to.... In the final phase of World War II, on 6 and 9 August 1945, US caused the worst destruction in history by dropping atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, 'Hiroshima and Nagasaki'. Bombs named 'Little Boy' were dropped on Hiroshima and 'Fat Man' on Nagasaki, killing millions of people and turning both cities into ashes. But do you know that Nagasaki was not US's first target? The second atomic bomb was actually to be dropped on another city in Japan, but at the last moment America changed its target and Nagasaki was destroyed instead of that city. This city was US' first target During World War II, the US planned to use atomic bombs with the intention of forcing Japan to surrender. After dropping the first bomb on Hiroshima, the second target was decided and that target was the Japanese city of Kokura. Kokura was an important industrial city of Japan at that time, where there were large-scale ammunition and weapons manufacturing factories. The US strategy was to further weaken Japan's military power by attacking Kokura. For this, on 9 August 1945, the B-29 bomber aircraft 'Box Car' was sent to Kokura with the 'Fat Man' bomb. How the target changed On the morning of August 9, when the B-29 plane reached over Kokura, the weather was bad there. The sky was covered with thick clouds and smoke, due to which the pilot Major Charles Sweeney could not see the target clearly. According to the rules of the US Army, the atomic bomb was to be dropped only on the basis of vision, so that the target could be hit accurately. When the attack on Kokura was not possible even after several rounds, the plane started running out of fuel. In such a situation, Sweeney had to choose the second option and that option was Nagasaki. 74,000 people died due to the bombing Nagasaki was an alternate target on the US list at the time. It was a port city and was also industrially important, but was a lower priority target than Kokura. Weather made it impossible to target Kokura, and the 'Fat Man' bomb was finally dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am. The attack killed about 74,000 people, and devastated a large part of the city. Kyoto was also a target, but it survived You will be surprised to know that US had initially included Kyoto city of Japan in the target list. Kyoto was the cultural capital of Japan at that time, where there were many universities, industries, and historical heritages. But American War Minister Henry Stimson got Kyoto removed from the list. The reason was his personal attachment. Stimson had celebrated his honeymoon with his wife in Kyoto and he had many memories associated with this city. Due to his insistence, Nagasaki was included in the list instead of Kyoto. In this way, the memory of a honeymoon saved Kyoto from destruction, but Nagasaki had to pay the price for it. The 'Fat Man' bomb dropped on Nagasaki was even more powerful than Hiroshima's 'Little Boy'. The bomb exploded about 500 meters above the ground, causing a huge mushroom ball of fire to rise into the sky. The explosion was so powerful that 70% of the city's industrial area was completely destroyed. However, the mountains around Nagasaki limited the scope of the devastation to some extent, causing less damage than Hiroshima. Still, the attack took the lives of thousands of people and left a deep impact of radiation on future generations. What do historians say? Many historians believe that Japan was already on the verge of defeat at that time, and the use of atomic bombs was probably not necessary. Some argue that the US demonstrated its military power through these attacks and wanted to send a message to the Soviet Union. At the same time, some say that US President Harry Truman wanted to force Japan to surrender as soon as possible, so that the war could be ended. After these attacks, Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, and World War II came to an end.
