A landmark warship deal between Australia and Japan is expected to drive further defence technology cooperation between the two Asia-Pacific nations, comparable in scope to Canberra’s security arrangements with Washington.

Analysts say the agreement with Tokyo will also help Canberra address navy shortfalls and reduce its overreliance on the US at a time of great volatility.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Saturday that the two countries had signed contracts for the first three of 11 Mogami-class frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy under a landmark US$7 billion deal.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three frigates in Japan for delivery in 2029. The remaining eight will be constructed at a shipyard in Western Australia.

Marles described the Japanese frigates as a major step towards building a larger and more lethal Australian surface combat fleet. “The time frame that we’ve announced is the fastest acquisition of a surface combatant into service in the Royal Australian Navy ever,” he said.