US, Australia and Japan Sign Trilateral Naval Logistics Agreement

The United States, Australia and Japan have signed a trilateral agreement enabling their navies to refuel and reload each other’s warships.

This was reported by Breaking Defense.

The pact marks the first trilateral logistics agreement among the three countries and is aimed at enhancing operational cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.

Under the agreement, warships from the three nations will be able to provide mutual logistical support, including missile reloading and refueling.

The agreement was signed by Vice Admiral Jeff Jablon, U.S. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Logistics; Rear Admiral Naoya Hoshi, Director General of Logistics for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force; and Commodore Catherine Rhodes, Director General of Logistics for the Royal Australian Navy.

The ceremony took place aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) during its port call in Brisbane.

“We have strong logistics partnerships with Japan and Australia to ensure the right materials and services are available at the right place and time to support each other’s maritime forces—from daily peacetime training to emergencies,” Jablon said.

The agreement is also expected to facilitate broader information-sharing, technology exchange and process alignment to enhance logistical resilience.

All three navies already conduct regular joint exercises and operations, including refueling partner vessels at sea. Since 2019, the U.S. and Australian navies have coordinated missile reloads in the Indo-Pacific.

The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is developing a new vertical launch reload system, known as TRAM, designed for use with Mk 41 vertical launchers on U.S. and allied ships.

The Navy conducted its first at-sea demonstration of the new mechanism in October 2024. Officials said the system could be a “game changer,” allowing ships to reload missiles and resupply while remaining on station.

During the test, an empty launch container was inserted into the Mk 41 system aboard the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin using the TRAM system.

According to NAVSEA, TRAM enables a warship to reload missiles, refuel and restock supplies simultaneously, increasing operational endurance at sea.