Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday (April 18, 2026), launching their ​landmark $10 billion ($7 billion) deal to supply Australia ‌with warships, Tokyo’s most consequential military ​sale since ending a ⁠military export ban in 2014.

Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi signed a memorandum “reaffirming the Australian ‌and Japanese governments’ shared commitment to the successful delivery” of the warships, ‌Mr. Marles said in a statement.