Japan Offers Mogami Frigate and Submarine, Ministry of Defence: No Procurement Yet, Still in Talks

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence has emphasised that the country has not yet established any official procurement of major defence equipment (alutsista) through cooperation with Japan.

“No decision or procurement stage has been set by the Indonesian Government,” said Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, to Kompas.com on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

“In every defence cooperation opportunity, including with Japan, all options will be comprehensively reviewed according to operational needs, budgetary capabilities, technology transfer, and Indonesia’s national interests,” he stressed.

Therefore, the current discussions are limited to communication and exploration of cooperation between the two countries.

“The Mogami frigate and submarine from Japan are indeed offers from Japan’s Ministry of Defence,” said Ali at the Kolinlamil Dock, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Monday (11/5/2026).

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Navy is only following directions from the Ministry of Defence.

This is because the Navy’s role is as the operational executor, while the procurement process is under the authority of the Ministry of Defence.