Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxOUnd4X2JNOXh2a093NDhJUzRvWm5FdHNGcVhBSlVQblVJX3VQOWNIcmRLakVjS3JaS3hQbFpORHdxcmp0MEZGT25qMWdueEZwbkVwdS1UR3BmTHNEZ3EwTlE1dDJwR0Rpa0oxSnF2MW9GVTgzWm1DQzVNSkxjbmU5T1kwMzJSNzgydFdBTko0b3czUXJXa3haS1poWHFXdHFaV0xSVWtLT2htV2M?oc=5" target="_blank">Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of a $6.5 billion fleet of Japanese-designed warships, with the first due for delivery in three years.

Japan agreed on Saturday on a deal to provide Australia's navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of a wider military build up by Canberra aimed at boosting its long-range firepower to deter China.

Landmark frigate agreement deepens military ties, boosts Japan’s defense exports, and strengthens regional efforts to counter China’s growing naval reach.

Australia and Japan have struck a significant defence deal worth billions of dollars to build the Royal Australian Navy's newest warships.