Our Take
This exercise gives Japan a chance to showcase the capabilities of its Soryu-class submarine ahead of a downselect in Australia’s submarine competition. The contract, worth $50 billion for 12 submarines, is expected to be awarded this year.
A Japanese submarine has entered Sydney Harbour for the first time since World War II. The JS Hakuryu sailed through the heads about accompanied by two warships – the JS Umigiri and JS Asayuki – and Australian naval ship the HMAS Ballarat.