Japan is offering Indonesia Mogami-class frigates and submarines, as Tokyo seeks to deepen security cooperation with Jakarta following the loosening of its arms export rules and amid the geopolitical situation in the region.
On April 11, Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Chief of Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, confirmed that Japan is offering Mogami frigates and submarines to Indonesia. According to the admiral, the offer was conveyed during a recent meeting between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Admiral Ali said the proposals are still being discussed and reviewed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and that the final decision would be made by the ministry.
To note, Koizumi visited Indonesia on May 3 and 4, where he and Sjafrie signed a new Defence Cooperation Arrangement that includes an equipment and technology partnership aimed at enhancing both countries’ maritime deterrence capabilities.
During the signing, Koizumi explained Tokyo’s recent decision to loosen its arms export rules, while Sjafrie expressed Indonesia’s readiness to explore practical cooperation within Japan’s revised arms transfer framework.
The revised framework allows the export of lethal military equipment, including warships and missiles, to partner countries with existing defence technology agreements, including Indonesia.
Reports of a potential Mogami-class frigate sale to Indonesia have circulated since at least 2021, when Jakarta and Tokyo signed an Agreement on the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology. Since then, Japan has actively showcased the class to senior Indonesian military and government officials.
Notably, at least two Mogami-class frigates have made port calls in Indonesia: JS Kumano (FFM-2) in 2023 and JS Yahagi (FFM-5) in 2025.
Moreover, during separate visits to Yokosuka in 2025, Defence Minister Sjafrie and Admiral Ali boarded JS Kumano, further demonstrating Japan’s strong interest in promoting the Mogami design to Indonesia.
For the submarine offer, no official statement has been made on the exact type being proposed. However, Naval News understands that Indonesia has officially expressed its interest in acquiring a second-hand Oyashio-class submarine. During his visit to Yokosuka, Admiral Ali boarded the sixth boat of the class, JS Narushio (SS-595).
Indonesian and Japanese Defence Ministers aboard JS Jingei in Yokosuka (2025). Indonesian MoD picture.
Japan’s push to market the Mogami-class frigate to Indonesia comes as the design is gaining wider international attention. In August 2025, Australia selected the upgraded Mogami-class as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future general-purpose frigate programme, while New Zealand is also considering the design for its future frigate requirement alongside the UK’s Type 31.
Interest in the Mogami-class may also extend to the United States following a recent report that the Pentagon has asked the U.S. Navy to study Japanese and South Korean shipyards and naval designs.
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