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)