Latest news with #JapanMaritimeSelfDefenseForce
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Japanese warships arrive in Wellington
Two ships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are in Wellington for a ceremonial visit. Photo: Alexandria Nowell / supplied Two Japanese warships have arrived in Wellington for a three day ceremonial visit. The ships had been holding a training manoeuvre with Australian and RNZAF P-8 martime aircraft. The pair were accompanied by HMNZS Canterbury, which was returning from the major, multi-country exercise Talisman Sabre . The helicopter destroyer Ise was in fact a small aircraft carrier, nearly 20,000 tons in size. It normally had four helicopters but was able to operate up to 18. It's accompanied by a destroyer, Suzunami. The Japanese maritime self defence force said the visit was to strengthen cooperation and understanding with allied and partner navies in the Indo-Pacific. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NHK
6 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Australia chooses Japan as partner in developing new frigate
The Australian government has chosen Japan as a partner to jointly develop a new frigate for the Australian navy. Defense minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday that Japan's Mogami-class frigate as a model for joint development has been selected as the preferred platform for Australia's future frigate. Australia plans to introduce up to 11 new frigates to replace an aging fleet. Its investment is expected to total 10 billion Australian dollars, or about 6.5 billion US dollars. Japan and Germany had been shortlisted for the project. The Japanese-proposed Mogami-class frigate is a state-of-the-art vessel used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Marles cited the Japanese frigate's stealth and missile capabilities, and its high performance radar and sonar. He said the ship can also be operated by a smaller crew. Marles said the Japanese proposal was chosen to optimize the capability of the Australian navy. He added that this represents "a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan." If finalized, the project will become one of the biggest defense equipment export deals Japan has ever struck. Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani Gen welcomed Australia's decision, calling it a "big step" that will further elevate Japan's security cooperation with its special strategic partner. Nakatani told reporters that he believes that, in addition to the Japanese frigate's smaller crew and high capabilities, Australia highly evaluated Japan's commitment to the project by both its government and private-sector. Nakatani said joint development and production will contribute to improving Japan's maritime capabilities, and will be extremely meaningful for national security. Nakatani said Japan expects the deal to be concluded in early 2026. He said the government and the private-sector will continue working together to speed up the necessary coordination.
NHK
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Philippine Navy to check Japanese destroyer escorts
The Philippine Navy says it will send experts to Japan next month to explore acquiring destroyer escorts set to be retired by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. The navy told reporters in the capital, Manila, on Tuesday that the team will inspect Abukuma-class destroyer escorts during the upcoming visit. The navy says these vessels have the anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities it requires. So far, Japan has provided 12 patrol ships to the Philippines. Air surveillance radar systems have also been exported from Japan, based on its three principles on defense equipment transfers. But the country has yet to transfer highly lethal equipment such as destroyer escorts. A spokesperson for the Philippine Navy said the acquisition or the possible transfer of the destroyer escorts would greatly enhance the "Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept." The Philippines has a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
Japan Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China, report says
Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two U.S. allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing. The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources. Defense Ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding that the Philippine military will inspect the ships this summer as part of the final preparations. A delegation of naval experts from the Philippines will conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships, the Philippine Navy said in a statement on Sunday, following an official invitation from Japan's Defense Ministry. "The outcome of this inspection will guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the Philippine Navy's modernization efforts," it said, adding that the initiative reflects the deepening strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan. A Japanese Defense Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the report and China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tokyo and Manila say they face challenges from Beijing's increasingly assertive moves in waters including the South China Sea for the Philippines and the East China Sea for Japan. Bilateral military cooperation has included joint exercises, a Japanese radar aid package and a high-level strategic dialogue. Last year they signed a reciprocal access agreement, the first such for Japan in Asia, allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil. To clear military equipment export restrictions for the destroyers under Japan's pacifist mandates, Tokyo will treat the installation of equipment and communication systems requested by Manila as a joint development project, the Yomiuri said. The Abukuma-class destroyer escort, a relatively small type of destroyer with a 2,000-ton standard displacement, is operated by a crew of about 120 and is armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes and guns, according to a Japanese navy website. The Philippine Navy does not have destroyers, only frigates and corvettes, which are typically smaller and lighter armed.
Japan Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China: report
Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two U.S. allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing. The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources. Defense ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding that the Philippine military will inspect the ships this summer as part of the final preparations. A delegation of naval experts from the Philippines will conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships, the Philippine Navy said in a statement on Sunday, following an official invitation from Japan's defense ministry. "The outcome of this inspection will guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the Philippine Navy's modernization efforts," it said, adding that the initiative reflects the deepening strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan. A Japanese defense ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the report and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Tokyo and Manila say they face challenges from Beijing's increasingly assertive moves in waters including the South China Sea for the Philippines and the East China Sea for Japan. Bilateral military cooperation has included joint exercises, a Japanese radar aid package and a high-level strategic dialogue. Last year they signed a reciprocal access agreement, the first such for Japan in Asia, allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil. To clear military equipment export restrictions for the destroyers under Japan's pacifist mandates, Tokyo will treat the installation of equipment and communication systems requested by Manila as a joint development project, the Yomiuri said. The Abukuma-class destroyer escort, a relatively small type of destroyer with a 2,000-ton standard displacement, is operated by a crew of about 120 and is armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes and guns, according to a Japanese navy website. The Philippine Navy does not have destroyers, only frigates and corvettes, which are typically smaller and lighter armed.
