A Japanese submarine and a pair of warships are heading to Australia to practise sub hunting off the east coast.

The Soryu-class JS Hakuryu is of the same type Japan is offering as a replacement for the Australian navy’s six Collins-class submarines.

The visit has been billed as Japan showcasing its submarine technology but a Department of Defence source said on Friday it would have no impact on the competitive evaluation process to select a new submarine design.

The Japanese vessels will work with Australian ships and aircraft in the latest round of the bilateral Nichi Gou Trident exercise series, designed to improve collaboration between the two navies.

Last year it was held off Japan, and Australian warships conducted controversial live-fire exercises with the Chinese navy on their way home.

Accompanying JS Hakuryu will be anti-submarine warfare destroyers JS Asayuki and JS Umigiri.

The exercise will be held in the east coast exercise area off Jervis Bay.

Japanese ships are scheduled to visit Sydney Harbour in mid-April, part-way through the exercise.

