07 Juli 2025

Japan to Transfer All Six Used Abukuma-class Destroyer Escort Ships to the Philippines

07 Juli 2025

Abukuma-class destroyer escort of JMSDF (photo: J-Navy World)

It has been learned that the governments of Japan and the Philippines have agreed to transfer a used Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer escort. If the export of a used destroyer escort is realized, it will be the first such case. The export of the destroyer aims to improve interoperability with the Philippine military and jointly strengthen deterrence and response capabilities against China, which is unilaterally advancing into the ocean.

This was revealed by multiple Japanese government officials. Defense Minister Nakatani and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro confirmed the export of used destroyer escort ships during a meeting in Singapore in early June. The exports are expected to consist of six Abukuma-class destroyers of the MSDF. The Abukuma-class destroyers escort have been in service for over 30 years, and due to a shortage of SDF personnel, they are being gradually retired in order to be replaced by new ships with fewer personnel.

Abukuma-class destroyer escort of JMSDF (photo: Japan MoD)

According to sources, the Philippine military is scheduled to inspect the Abukuma-class destroyer eascort this summer and will check their equipment, such as main guns, and their maintenance status, among other things, to finalize preparations for export.

The Philippine military is under pressure to respond to the Chinese military's increasing activity in the South China Sea, and securing the number of ships is an urgent task. According to the Military Balance 2025 edition by the British International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Chinese military has 102 surface combatants such as destroyers, while the Philippines has only two frigates.

Abukuma-class destroyer escort of JMSDF (image: Wiki)

The operational guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment limit the equipment that can be exported to five types: rescue, transport, alert, surveillance, and minesweeping, and destroyers with high offensive capabilities cannot be exported as is. However, it is possible to export equipment with high offensive capabilities if it is jointly developed, such as the next-generation fighter jets that Japan is developing with the UK and Italy, and the new ship based on the "Mogami-class" destroyer that Japan is proposing to Australia. The direction is to proceed with exporting second-hand destroyers by modifying their specifications, such as by incorporating the equipment and communication facilities required by the Philippines, and developing them jointly. In the future, the plan is to also export new destroyers.

Japan and the Philippines are deepening their security cooperation and moving forward with building a relationship as "quasi-allies." At their summit meeting in April, the two countries agreed to enter into discussions toward concluding an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which would allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military to share food, fuel, and other items.

Abukuma-class destroyer escort of JMSDF (photo: Japan MoD)

The Philippines and China have territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and Japan is also facing Chinese maritime expansion in the East China Sea. If the Philippine military operates Japanese-developed destroyers, it is expected to improve joint response capabilities, and a senior MSDF official hopes that "we will be able to check the movements of the Chinese military."

Akubuma class destroyer escort

"Abukuma-class" destroyer : 109 meters in length, standard displacement 2,000 tons. It has a crew of about 120 people. It is equipped with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, but cannot carry helicopters. It is smaller than other destroyers and is responsible for patrol activities in the waters near Japan. A total of six ships were commissioned between 1989 and 1993.

(Yomiuri)

06 Juli 2025

Indonesia Could Buy up to 24 Additional Rafales

06 Juli 2025

Jakarta is now reportedly looking to acquire 24 Rafale jets adding 42 units that have been previously ordered (photo: Defense Studies)

Indonesia is no longer seeking a dozen Rafales, but rather 24 fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation, according to concordant sources. The contract could be signed during the visit to Paris of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, France's guest of honor for the 14th of July celebrations. 

The Indonesian head of state will arrive with approximately 450 soldiers, who will parade down Paris's famous Champs-Élysées avenue. Following Emmanuel Macron's visit to Indonesia in May, this will be a new opportunity for Jakarta and Paris to strengthen the already very close bilateral relations between the two countries.

Additional Caesar SPHs
Other contracts could be signed on July 14th, or even come into force, such as the one for Naval Group's two Scorpène submarines. KNDS France could also finalize a new sale of Caesar self-propelled howitzers (up to 36 additional systems), while Naval Group could sign an order for frigates. For now, it seems that nothing has been definitively finalized, as is often the case just days before the Indonesian president's arrival in Paris.

PMC's MBLT-8 Joined Archipelagic Coastal Defense Preparedness Exercise

06 Juli 2025

APEX-ACERO 04-25 conducted in Ilocos Norte province - namely Badoc, Currimao, Pasuquin, and Burgos, Philippines (photos: PMC)

The Marine Battalion Landing Team-8 (MBLT-8), under the operational control of the 4th Marine Brigade (4MBDE), actively participated in the Archipelagic Coastal Defense Preparedness Exercise (APEX-ACERO) 04-25— a unilateral coastal defense exercise of the Philippine Marine Corps held from 17 to 29 June 2025.


Conducted across key locations in Ilocos Norte—namely Badoc, Currimao, Pasuquin, and Burgos—APEX-ACERO 04-25 tested and enhanced the Corps’ archipelagic coastal defense capabilities and developed the leadership, command, and operational readiness of the 4th Marine Brigade, its maneuver units, and its combat and service support elements.


Students from the Marine Corps Force Development Center (MCFDC) were also embedded with various units as part of their field training exercises. Key training events included Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (RSOI), Seaport Seizure, Airport Seizure, Camp Retake, Beach Landing Site (BLS) Counter-Landing, and Live Fire Exercises.


The Philippine Marine Corps has twelve regular Marine Battalions. Three battalions are assigned to each of the four maneuver brigades and a single battalion is rotated back to the Marine headquarters for refit and retraining for at least six months up to one year before redeployment to operational areas in the southern Philippines. Each of the twelve battalions (from Marine Battalion Landing Team/MBLT from 1 to 12) is organized into three rifle companies and a headquarters and service company. 

(PMC | Wiki)

Kho J258, Bengkel Kendaraan Militer Vietnam

06 Juli 2025

Kho J258 menyelenggarakan hari implementasi teknis bulanan (photo: QDND)

QDND pada bulan Mei lalu menurunkan tulisan tentang Kho J258 (Kho artinya gudang atau warehouse) adalah gudang logistik dan teknik milik Departemen Kendaraan Bermotor dan Transport dibawah Komando Logistik dan Teknik dari Vietnam People's Army.  

Secara hirarki meskipun fungsinya mendukung Angkatan Darat Vietnam Kho J258 berada di bawah kendali langsung Tentara Rakyat Vietnam melalui struktur Departemen Umum Logistik dan Teknik (yang membawahi semua fasilitas logistik dan teknik militer di seluruh cabang).


Komandan Kho J258 memeriksa perawatan self propelled howitzer SU-100 (photos: QDND)

Kho J258 (Departemen Kendaraan Bermotor dan Transportasi, Departemen Umum Logistik dan Teknik) ditugaskan untuk menerima, mengelola, mendistribusikan, dan memastikan keamanan teknis kendaraan bermotor militer, peralatan, dan material teknis untuk kendaraan bermotor; pada saat yang sama, melakukan inspeksi keselamatan teknis mobil militer untuk unit-unit di wilayah Dataran Tinggi Tengah. Selama bertahun-tahun, unit tersebut telah proaktif dan kreatif dalam mengatasi kesulitan untuk menyelesaikan semua tugas dengan sukses.


Kho J258 dibentuk pada tanggal 25 April 1968 dengan nama awal Batalion Transportasi Jalan D68. Kemudian berkembang menjadi Kho J258, yang fokus pada penyimpanan dan distribusi logistik kendaraan militer. Berperan besar selama Perang Vietnam dengan mendistribusikan ribuan kendaraan dan ratusan ribu ton logistik ke medan perang di Vietnam Selatan. 

Kho J258 terletak di Distrik Hoa Khanh Bac, Distrik Lien Chieu, Kota Da Nang ditempat mana juga merupakan lokasi dari Brigade 683 (Departemen Kendaraan - Departemen Umum Logistik dan Teknis) di Da Nang.

Kho J258 melaksanakan perawatan kendaraan truk Ural 375-D (photos: QDND)

Kho J258 juga menjalankan fungsi sebagai tempat perawatan dan perbaikan peralatan militer, khususnya kendaraan bermotor milik Angkatan Darat Vietnam. Fungsi Perawatan dan Perbaikan di Kho J258:
-Perbaikan Tingkat Dasar hingga Menengah
-Pemeriksaan Teknis (Inspeksi)
-Penyimpanan & Konservasi Peralatan
-Modernisasi & Inovasi Teknik


Jenis kendaraan bermotor yang ditangani oleh Kho J258
-Sepeda motor militer
Sejak berdiri, Kho J258 telah menangani puluhan ribu unit sepeda motor untuk keperluan tempur, distribusi, dan perawatan teknis di lapangan.

-Truk dan kendaraan pengangkut logistik
Mulai dari era 1986 hingga kini, gudang ini juga merawat dan menguji ribuan truk militer untuk angkut personel dan logistik.

-Mobil militer & kendaraan ringan (SUV, van)
Kho J258 juga melakukan inspeksi teknis dan perawatan kendaraan roda empat seperti kendaraan patroli, komando, dan dinas SUV.


Selain itu kendaraan militer berat juga diperbaiki di Kho J258 yaitu:
1.Truk militer berat
Truk pengangkut logistik berbagai tipe yang digunakan oleh Angkatan Darat Vietnam. Contohnya termasuk truk militer Soviet/Vietnam lama (Ural, KamAZ, ZIL) maupun truk produksi lokal atau China.

2.Kendaraan pengangkut amunisi dan bahan bakar
Kendaraan berat khusus yang membawa bahan peledak, amunisi, dan logistik bahan bakar.

3.Kendaraan lapis baja & kendaraan taktis
Perbaikan untuk kendaraan seperti SU-100, BTR-60PB, BRDM-2, yang meski ringan tapi masuk kategori kendaraan tempur berat dalam hal tugas.

4.Kendaraan teknik lapangan
Contohnya alat berat militer seperti bulldozer, crane, dan kendaraan penggali untuk mendukung operasi tempur dan teknik.


Khusus untuk overhaul berat, J258 tidak menanganinya, namun akan dilakukan oleh "Kho Kỹ Thuật 788" atau KT788 (Kỹ Thuật artinya depo teknik) dan "Xưởng 203" atau X203 (Xưởng artinya pabrik atau factory). KT788 berada dibawah Direktorat Teknik Korps Tank dan Kendaraan Lapis Baja, serta X203 berada dibawah Direktorat Kendaraan Bermotor & Teknik, keduanya di bawah Angkatan Darat Vietnam.


Perbedaan keduanya misalnya pada pekerjaan perbaikan tank:
-KT788 mengerjakan perbaikan transmisi tank, sistem suspensi, roda gigi, serta penyediaan komponen teknis,
-X203 mengerjakan overhaul total tank (contohnya T54/T55), modernisasi kanon, pemasangan elektronik baru, rekondisi mesin.

KT 788 berlokasi di Phu Thanh, Lac Thuy, provinsi Hoa Binh, sedangkan X203 terletak di Hanoi ibukota Vietnam.

Lantamal IV Terima 1 Unit Kapal Tunda Buatan Industri Dalam Negeri

06 Juli 2025

TD Daik, kapal tunda untuk Lantamal IV buatan PT Dok Bahari Nusantara - Cirebon (photos: Terafulk, TNI AL)

TNI AL, Batam - 1 Unit kapal tunda laut dangkal yang menyandang kode TD yaitu TD Daik diterima langsung oleh Komandan Lantamal IV Batam Laksamana Pertama TNI Berkat Widjanarko, S.E., M.Tr.Opsla yang diserahkan langsung oleh Aslog Kasal Laksamana Muda TNI Eko Sunarjanto di Galangan Kapal PT DBN Cirebon, Jawa Barat. Jum’at (20/06/2025).

Harbour Tug tersebut akan bertugas dalam melakukan pemanduan dan penundaan serta membantu pergerakan manuver KRI keluar dan masuk pelabuhan. Harbour Tug buatan dalam negeri ini juga berfungsi sebagai kapal pencarian dan pertolongan (SAR).

Harbour tug produksi PT Dok Bahari Nusantara asal Cirebon ini memiliki panjang 30 m, lebar 11,6 m, tinggi 5,1 m, dan berkecepatan maksimal 12 knot. Kapal ini juga dilengkapi peralatan pemadam api berkapasitas 600 m³ dan jangkauan 100 m untuk evakuasi korban di laut.


Dalam hal ini Aslog Kasal menyampaikan bahwa, “Pembuatan kapal harbour tug ini tentunya sebagai bentuk komitmen TNI AL dalam mendukung program pemerintah yaitu, Peningkatan Penggunaan Produk Dalam Negeri (P3DN) untuk mewujudkan kemandirian bangsa Indonesia dan memenuhi kebutuhan pertahanan negara”.

“Sesuai Asta Cita Presiden Prabowo Subianto, TNI AL akan terus berupaya memantapkan sistem pertahanan keamanan negara dan mendorong kemandirian bangsa melalui swasembada pangan, energi, air, ekonomi kreatif, ekonomi hijau, dan ekonomi biru untuk mewujudkan Indonesia Emas 2045,” tegasnya.

Turut hadir dalam acara tersebut Kadisadal, Kadismatal, Kadislaikmatal dan Aslog Lantamal IV.

05 Juli 2025

Republik Aero Dirgantara Gandeng Secamic Perancis Kembangkan Pemeliharaan Pesawat

05 Juli 2025

Secamic juga berpengalaman MRO untuk pesawat tempur dan helikopter Angkatan Udara Prancis (photo: Rafale Solo Display)

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - PT Republik Aero Dirgantara (RAD) akan mengembangkan layanan maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), yang mencakup sejumlah pesawat sipil dan militer di Indonesia. 

Untuk merealisasikan aksi korporasi itu, RAD menggandeng perusahaan jasa penerbangan asal Perancis, Secamic. 

Kerja sama kedua entitas ditandai dengan penandatanganan Nota Kesepahaman (MoU) di ajang Paris Air Show 2025 pada 20 Juni lalu. 

CEO Secamic Bertrand Lucereau, mengatakan kolaborasi tersebut juga bertujuan membangun kapabilitas perawatan pesawat yang mandiri dan berstandar internasional di dalam negeri. 

“Kami percaya dengan dukungan teknis dan pengetahuan kelas dunia, Indonesia dapat memperkuat infrastruktur MRO-nya secara berdaulat,” ujar Bertrand Lucereau melalui keterangan pers, Sabtu (28/6/2025).

Kolaborasi tersebut menggabungkan pengalaman puluhan tahun SECAMIC dalam dukungan penerbangan militer global dan jejaring lokal RAD yang kuat dalam ekosistem pertahanan nasional di Indonesia. 

Kerja sama ini juga mencakup pelatihan teknis, pembangunan rantai pasok, pengawasan mutu, serta alih teknologi dan peralatan khusus yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan operasional Indonesia. 

Fasilitas MRO akan dilakukan di Bandung (photo: Republik Aero Dirgantara)

Seluruh kegiatan MRO direncanakan terpusat di fasilitas RAD yang ada di Bandung dan akan dikembangkan sebagai pusat operasional utama. 

SECAMIC akan berperan penting dalam menjamin kepatuhan teknis, pendampingan proses sertifikasi, serta memastikan transfer keahlian dari Prancis ke Indonesia. 

"Ini bukan sekadar kerja sama bisnis, tapi sebuah langkah strategis menuju kemandirian industri pertahanan nasional. Bersama Secamic, kami ingin menghadirkan layanan MRO bernilai tinggi yang tak hanya mendukung armada saat ini dan masa depan, tapi juga membuka lapangan kerja dan mengembangkan sumber daya lokal,” ungkap Chairman Republikorp Norman Joesoef. 

Kesepakatan ini menjadi landasan pengembangan kerja sama antara para pihak, dengan implementasi awal lima tahun dan peluang perpanjangan ke depan. 

Setelah diresmikan, kolaborasi ini diharapkan memperkuat kemandirian Indonesia dalam layanan pemeliharaan, perbaikan, dan overhaul (MRO) serta meningkatkan kesiapan operasional armada. 

Inisiatif ini juga bertujuan memperluas kerja sama internasional yang mendukung pembangunan industri pertahanan nasional, dengan memadukan keahlian teknologi dan pengalaman untuk menciptakan nilai tambah strategis bagi Indonesia.

Royal Thai Navy Tested the Capabilties of New Marcus-KK Drone

05 Juli 2025

New domestic MARCUS-KK (Kamikaze/Kill) loitering munition/aerial target conducted communication relaying in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) training (photos: Royal Thai Navy)

The Naval Research and Development Office (NRDO) has further tested the capabilities of its new MARCUS-KK (Kamikaze/Kill) air target/suicide UAV, using it for real-time communications and situation reporting during the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) training in Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, which is part of the annual Navy training 2025 on June 5, 2025.


Earlier the drone being used in a test as a flying target at the Khao Lampi-Thai Mueang Weapons Training Range, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province, the area of ​​the 3rd Naval Area Command (3rd NAC: Third Naval Area Command) on May 8, 2025.


It can be seen that the MARCUS-KK air target/suicide drone is versatile and can be used for various purposes. It is also a work developed and produced in Thailand.

(AAG)