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Mogami 30FFM frigate

In 2020, news of negotiations on the sale of destroyers by Japan to Indonesia emerged. The name 30DX or 30FF / 30FFM frigate appeared. This frigate with a dead weight of 5,500 tons has a stealth design, at a glance it has similarities with the Formidable Class frigate design. The manufacturer, namely Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has announced that the 30DX frigate will be offered for the export market. Because there is a desire to sell this frigate for export, there is a strong suspicion that the 30DX frigate is the one being targeted to be sold to Indonesia. The 30DX frigate features a 127 mm Mark 45 gun on the bow, two CIWS cannons, a SeaRAM - RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile mounted above the hangar. Then there are two canisters, which can be carried 8 units of Type 17 anti-ship missiles, and 16 hanud missile launchers in the Mk-41 VLS ( Vertical Launch System ).

Responding to the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide who met President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace on 20 October 2020, the Japanese government is reportedly considering selling a destroyer to Indonesia. If the destroyer deal is successful, it will provide momentum for Japanese defense equipment exports and help realize Japan's initiative to make the Indo-Pacific region free and open. The plan to sell destroyers to Indonesia cannot be separated from China's expansion in the South China Sea region.

An agreement between Japan and Indonesia for Japanese defense exports to the Indonesian armed forces was signed during “two plus two” security talks on 30 March 2021. Japan could deliver up to eight of its new 3,900-ton Mogami-class Multi-Mission Frigate ( FFM ) [known variously by the designations 30FFM, 30FF, 30DX, and 30DEX] to the Indonesian Navy. The provisional plan called for Japan to deliver four vessels in late 2023 or early 2024, with the remaining four to be built by PT PAL at its shipyard in Surabaya. At $450 million per ship, if it eventuates the deal would be worth $3.6 billion, by far the largest ever arms deal between Indonesia and Japan.

On March 30, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. KISHI Nobuo, Minister of Defense of Japan, held the second Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) with H.E. Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia.

The four ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, and concurred to further deepen the bilateral security cooperation with the Agreement serving as its basis. The Japanese side conveyed its decision to provide an ODA loan of 50 billion yen for disaster risk reduction for which the Indonesian side expressed appreciation. The four ministers also concurred to continue collaborating in the field of maritime cooperation, including outer islands development, maritime surveillance, maritime law enforcement, and in the field of humanitarian and disaster risk reduction assistance.

The four ministers concurred that Japan and Indonesia will promote cooperation in Sulu-Celebes Seas and surrounding areas. In addition, the four ministers affirmed that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in the field of economic security, including supply chain and digital, and on counterterrorism.

Both sides exchanged their views on the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Furthermore, both sides also shared serious concerns about the continued and strengthened unilateral attempts to change the status quo. The four ministers shared the view on the importance of a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law and on respecting international law including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In April 2021 Asia Times reported that Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto was considering the purchase of eight stealthy Mogami-class multi-mission frigates as part of a plan to beef up the navy’s long-range patrol capabilities and strengthen the country’s strategic defense relationship with Japan. If the purchase is completed, it would represent the biggest-ever arms deal between the two nations. The provisional plan called for Japan to deliver four of the 3,900-ton frigates, beginning in late 2023 or early 2024, and for the remaining four to be built at state-run PT PAL’s Surabaya shipyard. Indonesia had previously considered an order for six Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates under a transfer-of-technology deal initially worth $720 million, but Jakarta and Tokyo were worried about the situation in the South China Sea.

The Mogami Class stealth frigates are the newest and most sophisticated warships in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Until now, the JMSDF has only operated two stealth Mogami Class frigates, out of the planned 22 units, which will be handed over two units per year until 2032.

In June 2021 it was reported that Jakarta had signed agreement with Fincantieri for the acquisition of two used Maestrale FFG from the Italian Navy and purchase of six new FREMM FFG. Indonesia signed contracts to manufacture the FREMM frigates from Italy and Arrowhead, England. Aside from the Japanese 30FFM aka Mogami-class the other parties losing out are Dutch Damen with SIGMA 10514.

Jakarta is lining up as much as $125 billion in military modernization spending. But a lack of finance appeared to be a major obstacle. The deal with Japan had a sales team ensconced in Jakarta for much of 2021 seeking to sell the Indonesians. At least 14 of corvettes were acquired from the former East German navy in 1993 and are nearing retirement.