Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japan Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro in Canberra on Tuesday (18 August). Photo: Kym Smith via ADV.
Australia and Japan have successfully tested a jointly-developed high-energy laser as part of a deepening of defence collaboration between the two countries.
The milestone comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi announced during their May summit in Canberra a commitment to enhanced defence and security cooperation.
The Boobook project as it has been dubbed is a collaboration between Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Mitsubishi Electric Australia (MEA), and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), and has culminated in the successful field testing of the prototype laser system.
The project draws on more than 20 years of research and development by DSTG to deliver the laser technology which also has the potential to enhance surveillance capability.
The successful trials were conducted at the Cultana Training Area in South Australia and at DSTG’s Edinburgh facilities, and gave valuable insights into the system’s design and technical requirements. These insights will inform the next phases of development and commercialisation.
The tests also demonstrated Australia and Japan’s ability to jointly develop advanced technologies and conduct multinational testing on Australian ranges.
As the project progresses, MEA is establishing a new $70 million facility at Rydalmere in Sydney where large-scale manufacturing will be conducted. The facility will be home to a new MEA Defence Division, and will support manufacturing opportunities in Australia and strengthening access to advanced Mitsubishi Electric defence technologies for the Australian Defence Force.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the project demonstrated Australia’s ability to closely collaborate with Japan to develop cutting-edge technologies.
“Boobook is more than a technology project,” he said. “It is a practical example of the growing defence industrial partnership between Australia and Japan, as well as the opportunities that partnership creates for both nations.
“The establishment of Mitsubishi Electric Australia’s new defence facilities in Rydalmere is a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s defence industrial future and will support new opportunities for advanced manufacturing, technology transfer and workforce growth.”
The announcement coincides with the visit to Australia by Japanese Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro, who had his fourth meeting with Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday (18 August) under the bilateral Framework for Strategic Defence Coordination which was established in December 2025.
“I think this is the fourth time we’ve met this year, seventh time we’ve met within a year, and it speaks to the significance of the relationship that we have together, personally, but obviously also in terms of the bilateral defence relationship of our two countries,” Mr Marles said in a statement.
“We meet at a time where there is significant strategic challenge around the world, but very much in the Indo-Pacific. And in the midst of all of that, our relationship is so profoundly important, and we are deeply grateful for it.”
Mr Koizumi added, “The leaders’ statement on security cooperation issued following the Japan-Australia summit meeting in May this year reflects the unprecedented level of strategic alignment between our two countries and will elevate our defence partnership to new heights.”
During their meeting, the two defence ministers committed to advance information sharing between the two defence forces, and to increase the tempo of military exercises. Australia and Japan are increasingly operating a number of similar capabilities, most notably the F-35A Lightning II fighter, and the forthcoming Mogami-class frigate being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
On the Mogami-class, the ministers said the project was on track to deliver the first of 11 vessels to the RAN by 2030, just five years after the decision was taken to acquire the vessel.
“We remain on course to see the first of those vessels in service in the Royal Australian Navy this decade, making it one of the fastest acquisitions of a surface combatant into the Royal Australian Navy in our history,” Mr Marles said.
“And we could not be happier with the level of cooperation that we are having with the Japanese Government in respect of that, but also the level of cooperation that we are having with [shipbuilder] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.”
