OKI extends JMSDF sensor expertise to Australian frigates

Japan’s OKI Electric has been selected to provide sonar systems for Australia’s future upgraded Mogami-class frigates, marking the company’s first overseas transfer of defence equipment. OKI has supplied sonar and sonobuoy technology to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for decades, including systems used across its submarine fleet and most surface combatants. Its recent Japanese equipment includes the ZQQ-8 family combining passive towed, bow and flank arrays, although the exact Australian configuration has not been publicly identified. The selection extends Japanese undersea-sensor technology into the Royal Australian Navy’s future frigate program without disclosing contract value, quantities or delivery dates.