Australia, Japan start annual military exercise as lobbying for sub contract intensifies

The presence of a Japanese submarine in annual military exercises is not a sales pitch as Australia enters the final stretch on its highly publicized, and politicized, procurement process for the nation's next submarine fleet, a senior Japanese commander said.

The eighth iteration of the bilateral Nichi Gou Trident maritime exercise encompassing Australian and Japanese air and naval assets began on Tuesday as the two countries continue to strengthen military ties.

It's the first time the exercise has been held in Australia since its inception in 2009.

Australia intends to purchase 12 new submarines with a 40-year shelf life from either Japan, Germany or France in a contract worth 50 billion Australian dollars (38.86 billion U.S. dollars).