Latest news with #FFM
Asahi Shimbun
7 days ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Australia frigate contract a major step in defense cooperation for Japan
A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. (REUTERS) SYDNEY/TOKYO--Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver the first of Australia's new navy frigates under a A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) deal, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday. The three-frigate contract will be the biggest Australian defense purchase since the government in 2023 agreed to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain, and one of Japan's biggest defense export deals. 'It's going to be really important in terms of giving our navy the capability to project, and impactful projection is at the heart of the strategic challenge,' Marles said, adding it was 'a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan'. Japan's Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani said it was a 'major step forward in Japan's defense cooperation efforts.' 'The benefits include enhanced joint operations and interoperability with both Australia and the United States,' he told a briefing in Tokyo. MHI's Mogami frigate was selected over German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' MEKO A-200 in a meeting of the Australian government's national security committee on Monday. The upgraded Mogami-class frigate was capable of launching long-range missiles and had a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, compared to Australia's current Anzac Class frigates, which had a range of around 6,000 nautical miles, Marles said. It also operated with a smaller crew than the Anzac class. The government said in 2024 it would spend up to A$10 billion for the general-purpose frigates to replace the Anzac Class. They will be equipped for undersea warfare and air defense to secure maritime trade routes and Australia's northern approaches. It said the first three general-purpose frigates will be built in Japan, with the remaining eight expected to be built by Austal in Western Australia state. The first frigate is expected to be delivered in 2029. The frigate contract is Japan's biggest and most significant defense deal since it lifted a decades-long ban on military exports in 2014, and only the second after it agreed to supply air defense radars to the Philippines. 'This collaboration is of significant security importance to Japan,' Nakatani said. The Japanese government had supported Mitsubishi's bid, after losing an Australian submarine tender to France a decade earlier, he added. Contract negotiations will begin this year with a contract expected to be signed in 2026, Australian and Japanese officials said. Finalizing pricing, maintenance and sustainment arrangements, and the later transfer of production to Australia are major issues to be addressed, the officials said.
Asahi Shimbun
7 days ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Australia awards navy frigate contract to Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy
A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. (REUTERS) SYDNEY--Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver Australia's new A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) navy frigate program, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday. The frigate contract, expected to be signed by the end of the year, will be the biggest Australian defense purchase since the government agreed to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain in 2023, and one of Japan's biggest defense export deals. 'It's going to be really important in terms of giving our navy the capability to project, and impactful projection is at the heart of the strategic challenge,' Marles said, adding it was 'a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan.' MHI's Mogami frigate was selected over German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' MEKO A-200 in a meeting of the government's national security committee on Monday. The upgraded Mogami-class frigate was capable of launching long-range missiles and had a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, compared to Australia's current Anzac Class frigates, which had a range of around 6,000 nautical miles, Marles said. It also operated with a smaller crew than the Anzac class. The government said in 2024 it would spend up to A$10 billion for the general-purpose frigates to replace the Anzac Class. They will be equipped for undersea warfare and air defense to secure maritime trade routes and Australia's northern approaches. It says the first three general-purpose frigates will be built offshore, with the remainder built in Western Australia. The first frigate is expected to be delivered in 2029.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
What's REALLY ‘cool'? Key 6 traits revealed by study – and the definition is universal
WHETHER it's James Bond, Maverick, Billie Eilish or Dolly Parton - we all have a celebrity we admire and some are more popular than others. Usually if we admire or like someone, we also think of them as 'cool'. And there's no doubt it's one of the best Advertisement 1 James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, fits all the characteristics of 'cool', defined by people around the globe - though perhaps not 'open' Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Even if it's hard to put your finger on why someone is 'cool', science has attempted to do so. Researchers asked thousands of people across the globe what it means to be cool. And it turns out, the feeling is universal - most people agree, regardless of their culture. Asking 6,000 people from countries around the world, scientists found people in at least a dozen countries agreed on the definition. Advertisement The study included people from the The participants were asked to think of someone who they thought was cool, not cool, good or not good. They then rated the person's personality and values. The researchers used the data to explore how cool people differ from uncool people and good people. Cool people were perceived to be more: Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Extraverted Hedonistic Powerful Adventurous Open Autonomous. There were some crossovers with what was deemed a 'good' person. Mathematical beauty: Top 10 celebrities rated perfect by science Co-lead researcher Dr Caleb Warren, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Arizona, said: 'To be seen as cool, someone usually needs to be somewhat likable or admirable, which makes them similar to good people. 'However, cool people often have other traits that aren't necessarily considered 'good' in a moral sense, like being hedonistic and powerful.' Good people were perceived as more conforming, traditional, secure, warm, agreeable, universalistic, conscientious and calm. Advertisement Marvel's Captain America, for example, or even Harry Potter, may be seen as 'good' over 'cool'. Co-lead researcher Dr Todd Pezzuti, an associate professor of marketing at the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile, said: 'Everyone wants to be cool, or at least avoid the stigma of being uncool, and society needs cool people because they challenge norms, inspire change, and advance culture. 'The concept of coolness started in small, rebellious sub-cultures, including Black jazz musicians in the 1940s and the beatniks in the 1950s. Read more on the Irish Sun "As society moves faster and puts more value on creativity and change, cool people are more essential than ever.' Advertisement Only participants who were familiar with the slang meaning of the word 'cool' were included in the study, published by the American Psychological Association. What are the big 5 personality traits? The Big Five personality traits, also known as the Five-Factor Model (FFM), are widely recognised dimensions of human personality that help scientists to group people together in studies. They are used in psychology, career assessments, relationship counselling, and even marketing. It has previously pinpointed that neuroticism, for example, is more linked to an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The five types are: Conscientiousness: This describes someone who is responsible, careful, and goal- and detail-oriented. They have high impulse control and tend to be organised Agreeableness: This describes a person who is respectful, compassionate, trusting and tries to avoid problems. They tend to be more cooperative and are helpful Neuroticism: This describes someone who gravitates toward unsettling emotions, such as anxiety and depression. They get upset easily Openness: This describes a person who is open to new experiences and curious about the world. They are creative and happy to talk about abstract ideas Extraversion or Extroversion: This describes someone who seeks excitement and is active and highly sociable. They are talkative, have a lot of emotional expressiveness and are energised around others
Asahi Shimbun
10-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Japanese frigate arrives in Australia as Tokyo bids for defense deal
A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. (REUTERS) NEWCASTLE, Australia--A state-of-the-art Japanese warship has arrived in Australia as part of a high-stakes campaign to secure a $6.5 billion contract to build the country's next fleet of general-purpose frigates. The JS Yahagi, a Mogami-class stealth frigate from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, is docked in Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory in what appears a symbolic and strategic move aimed at strengthening defense ties with Australia and showcasing Japanese naval technology. Japan's bid, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was short-listed in November for the Royal Australian Navy's SEA 3000 frigate project and is competing against Germany's MEKO A-200 offered by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. The Australian Government will select a preferred design later this year, with construction for 11 new vessels slated to begin the following year. 'We will go through the process of assessing those bids, both very impressive. We intend to make a decision in relation to that this year,' Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles said during his visit to Indonesia last week. 'We intend to make a decision as quickly as we can, which means, before the end of this year.' As part of its military buildup, Japan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry by participating in joint development, including a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy, and promoting foreign sales like the Mogami-class ships. In a sign of its commitment and heavy investment Japan has pledged to prioritize the RAN's order over its own naval procurement. The project not only serves to further deepen cooperation between Japan and Australia but also to enhance Japan's warship capabilities, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has said. The Japanese Mogami-class design boasts advanced combat systems, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capabilities, and mine countermeasure operations — all operated by a lean crew of around 90, helping to address ongoing recruitment challenges in the Australian Navy. The vessel's commanding officer, Masayoshi Tamura, said the ship's smaller crew was an aim of the Mogami-class ship. 'The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force thought we need stealth, and less people, and a little bit smaller ship,' Tamura told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The JS Yahagi's visit to Darwin comes amid intensifying strategic cooperation between Canberra and Tokyo, both of which have emphasized the importance of maritime safety and security of sea lanes. The frigate's arrival is also seen as a gesture of Japan's growing role in regional security and its desire to align more closely with key partners like Australia. In September 2024, Australia and Japan agreed to increase joint military training exercises to address shared concerns of China's incursions into Japanese airspace and territorial waters. Two months later, defense ministers from Australia, Japan and the U.S. held tripartite talks in Darwin to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening security ties and planning for joint military operations in northern Australia. Japanese marine units are also now included in annual training rotations of U.S. Marines in Darwin.
Japan Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Asia boosts weapons buys, military research as security outlook darkens
FILE PHOTO: A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo By Greg Torode and Jun Yuan Yong Spending on weapons and research is spiking among some Asian countries as they respond to a darkening security outlook by broadening their outside industrial partnerships while trying to boost their own defense industries, a new study has found. The annual Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment released on Wednesday by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said outside industrial help remains vital even as regional nations ultimately aim for self-reliance. "Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, coupled with worsening U.S.-China strategic competition and deterioration of the Asia-Pacific security landscape, may lead to a rising tide of defense-industrial partnerships," it read. "Competitive security dynamics over simmering flashpoints ... feed into the need to develop military capabilities to address them." Spending on defense procurement and research and development rose $2.7 billion between 2022 and 2024, it showed, to reach $10.5 billion among Southeast Asia's key nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The spike comes even as the nations spent an average of 1.5% of GDP on defense in 2024, a figure that has kept relatively constant over the last decade. The study, released ahead of this weekend's annual Shangri-La Dialogue defense meeting in Singapore, said Asia-Pacific nations still rely on imports for most key weapons and equipment. Such items range from submarines and combat aircraft to drones, missiles and advanced electronics for surveillance and intelligence gathering. The informal Singapore gathering of global defense and military officials is expected to be dominated by uncertainties stemming from the protracted Ukraine conflict, Trump administration security policies and regional tension over Taiwan and the disputed busy waterway of the South China Sea. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are increasingly active and making inroads, the study said, though European companies have a prominent and expanding regional presence, via technology transfer, joint ventures and licenced assembly deals. The UAE now operates a diversified network of collaborators, such as China's NORINCO weapons giant and rival India's Hindustan Aeronautics. Joint development operations are not always easy, the study said, offering lessons from India's two-decade collaboration with Russia to produce the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile. While the feared weapon is fielded by India, exports have been hampered by lack of a clear strategy, with deliveries to its first third-party customer, the Philippines, starting only in 2024, the study added. Closer Russia-China ties could further complicate the weapon's development, particularly if Moscow chooses to prioritize ties with Beijing to develop a hypersonic version of the missile. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
