Japan has significantly boosted its military ties with Australia in the face of intensifying tensions in the disputed South China Sea China claims to own.

Australia and Japan yesterday came a deal to share their military technologies. This agreement includes a joint research on marine hydrodynamics, or submarine technology that could see Australia either acquire advanced submarine designs from Japan or buy Japanese submarines outright.

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Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston visiting in Tokyo confirmed with their Japanese counterparts a substantial conclusion of talks about closer defense ties and technology sharing between both countries.

The joint research into marine hydrodynamics is expected to start in 2015. It will involve technologies that can be applied to any kind of vessels, including submarines, said Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.

The defense agreement will be finalized when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Australia in the coming months to confer with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

The hawkish Abe wants a role for the Japanese military outside Japan and has not backed down in the face of Chinese threats and provocations. Australia has warmly welcomed Japan's move to play a larger role in Asian security.

Military analysts said Australia is very interested in Japan's Soryu-class diesel electric submarine as a replacement for its fleet of aging Collins Class submarines.

The Soryu-class are diesel-electric submarines that entered service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2009. The Soryus are the largest submarines built by Japan since the end of World War II.

They have a range of 11,000 kilometers and are armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Japan has five operational Soryus with 10 more building.

The Soryus air-independent propulsion allows them to stay submerged for longer periods of time. Their engines are based on Kockums Stirling engines license-built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

"In terms of non-nuclear, diesel electric submarine, the Japanese submarine is very, very good indeed," Johnston said.

"We are interested to carefully and sensitively seek Japanese assistance and guidance with respect to the way we should go forward in building our own submarine."

The Collins class are Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The boats were the first submarines to be built in Australia. There are six operational boats in the RAN.

TagsMilitary, Australia, submarines, diesel-electric