Indonesia and Japan agree to resume stalled talks on transfer of defense equipment
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Indonesia's government said it agreed with Japan on Tuesday to resume talks on the joint development of naval vessels that have stalled in recent years. Visiting Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani discussed ways to deepen a defense partnership with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, in a meeting Tuesday and agreed to continue negotiations on joint development of naval ships and other military equipment and on technology transfer, Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Frega Wenas said.
“In principle, both defense ministers welcomed cooperation on promoting military equipment,” Wenas said. “Of course, it needs to be explored further where the joint development would occur and whether it would involve ships or other defense equipment.”.
Japan is unable to export finished frigates or submarines under its current guidelines on transfer of defense equipment and technology, and it is believed that joint development is the most feasible way to make transfers. Japanese media said Nakatani, who arrived in Jakarta on Sunday for an Indonesia-Japan defense ministerial meeting, would present a proposal for joint development of destroyers that stalled in recent years.
The Japanese government is envisioning frigates based on its Monogami class design, in which President Prabowo Subianto earlier showed interest when he was defense minister. The ships can be operated by a crew of about 90, half the number of conventional destroyers.
