Anonymous Collective

It hunts submarines.

It launches underwater drones.

And it sails into battle with a crew smaller than a high school classroom — just 90 sailors.

This is Japan's Mogami-class frigate, one of the most automated warships ever built.

Japan builds them for its own navy at roughly $710 million each — about half the price of America's troubled next-generation frigate, which has ballooned to $1.4 billion per ship.

Now Japan is selling upgraded versions abroad.

Australia just signed a $6.5 billion deal for three of them — a package that includes the technology to build the ships on Australian soil, plus years of training, parts and support.

New Zealand and Indonesia want in.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries designed the ship to fight short-handed — a lifeline for navies that can't find enough sailors.

Critics warn that a lean crew means fewer hands for damage control when a ship is hit.

But buyers are lining up anyway.

Japan, long barred from selling weapons abroad, has suddenly become one of the Pacific's hottest arms suppliers.