Indonesia to procure 48 TAI Kaan fighters, 2 MILGEM Istif-class frigates from Turkiye

 

The TAI Kaan fighter. Photo c/o Breaking Defence.

Indonesia and Turkiye has reached a landmark agreement with a deal to export the latter’s new Kaan 5th generation fighter aircraft as well as the MILGEM Istif-class frigates to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) and Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), respectively.

Representatives from both countries signed a commercial contract on 26 July 2025 for the export of 48 Kaan fighter aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) which also include comprehensive cooperation between the two countries that also involves technology transfer, and local engineering and manufacturing capabilities, as well as assisting in improving Indonesia’s aerospace infrastructure.

It is expected that the delivery program for all 48 aircraft will be completed in 10 years, which will be around 2036.

Other details of the deal include the inclusion of Indonesia’s PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PT Republik Aero Dirgantara as partners for industrial collaboration, technical and engineering support, and joint technology development.

This deal makes Indonesia the first confirmed export market for the new Kaan fighter, which only conducted its maiden flight on February 2024, and will start serial production by 2028.

Separately at the sidelines of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul, a deal was also finalized for the supply of two Istif-class (also known as Istanbul-class) frigates to the Indonesian Navy.

Turkish and Indonesian officials during signing of contract for 2 Istif-class frigates for the Indonesian Navy. Photo c/o Naval News.

The deal was signed also on 26 July 2025, with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Defense Facilities Agency chief Air Marshall Yusuk Jauhari representing the Indonesian Governmen, together with officials from Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL and Turkiye’s TAIS.

It is believed that the deal may involve the diversion of two frigates currently under construction by TAIS to the Turkish Navy, and will be made instead for the Indonesian Navy to allow faster delivery and quickly fill gaps in the Indonesian Navy’s operational requirements. 

The new frigates will be using mostly Turkish-made sensors, electronics, weapons and mechanical systems as originally designed for the Turkish Navy, which includes the ADVENT Combat Management System from HAVELSAN, the Cenk-S AESA air/surface search radar and Gokdeniz close-in weapon system from Aselsan, the ATMACA anti-ship missiles and MIDLAS vertical launch system with HISAR-D surface-to-air missiles from Roketsan, weapon system, and may also include the Denzhan 76mm/62cal naval gun from MKE.

[1] Naval News

[2]  Defense News

[3] Jakarta Globe

Philippines to conduct Inspections of Japanese Abukuma-class destroyer escorts

 

An Abukuma-class destroyer escort of the JMSDF. Photo c/o Seaforces.

As reports from Japan and the Philippines confirmed plans to transfer the entire fleet of six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) to the Philippines, the Philippine Navy has also confirmed that a Joint Visual Inspection (JVI) will be conducted to assess the condition of the ships.

Philippine Navy Spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos confirmed that aside from inspecting the condition of the ships’ weapon systems, hull, machinery and other components, the inspection will also assess how the ships will fit into the Philippine Navy’s functions and operational requirements, financial capability to support, interoperability with existing subsystems, and logistics systems.

The JVI is scheduled to start in August 2025 and will include surface warfare officers, sea systems experts, as well as financial and logistics personnel., and will be completed in two weeks.

Formulating a recommendation will soon follow, which will be forwarded to the Philippine Navy’s General Headquarters for review, before forwarding to the Department of National Defense.

The six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts collectively have been in service with the JMSDF between 32 to 36 years, and are used for anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare operations.

They are 109 meters long, displacing at around 2,000 tons, and are armed with an Oto Melara 76mm Compact naval gun, RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) system, lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes, and a 20mm Phalanx close-in weapon system.

Their introduction to the Philippine Navy are expected to boost the fleet numbers, improve overall combat capability especially on anti-submarine warfare, and is viewed as a goodwill gesture and strategic move by Japan to assist a like-minded country and strategic partner.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported in early July that an agreement between the Japanese and Philippine defense ministries was reached during the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 2025 for the potential transfer of the ships. 

[1] Philippine News Agency

[2] MaxDefense Philippines

[3] Naval News

Construction of first 99-meter Multi-Purpose Mission Ship for Malaysia starts

 

First steel cutting ceremony for.MMEA's first 99-meter MPMS. Photo c/o Desan Shipyard

Turkish shipbuilder Desasn Shipyard held the First Steel Cutting Ceremony for the construction of the first 99-meter Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) being built for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA / Maritim Malaysia).

The ceremonies were held in Dasan Shipyard’s facility in Turkiye on 09 July 2025, attended by officials from the MMEA as well as Desan Shipyard’s Chairman Cenk İsmail Kaptanoğlu.

The MPMS is expected to become MMEA’s largest ship, capable of maritime patrols, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental response and other missions along Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone and other maritime interests.

The ship will have advanced technology integrated including radar, electronics and communication systems, weapon systems, and navigation systems, mostly from the Turkish defense and naval industry leaders.

It was designed with a crew complement of 70 personnel, with an endurance of up to 30 days, and will have 4 fast interceptor crafts, a medical facility, and a detention facility, among other features.

It will have a helicopter deck and allow for air operations including deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles. 

The ship, which is still unnamed, is expected to be launched in 2026 and delivered to the MMEA by March 2027.

[1] Naval News

[2] Baird Maritime

Malaysia launches, names second Maharaja Lela-class littoral combat ship

 

Launching of LCS2, named Raja Muda Nala. Photo c/o RMN.

Malaysia’s Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) has successfully launched the second Maharaja Lela-class littoral combat ship (LCS) built for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). during ceremonies held on 03 July 2025 in Lumut Naval Base,  Perak.

The ship was launched during ceremonies held on 03 July 2025 in Lumut Naval Base,  Perak, with the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah naming the ship as the Raja Muda Nala (2502). 

Also present were the Malaysian Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan; Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar; RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain; and Royal Malaysian Air Force chief General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris

Raja Muda Nala was named after a young prince who led Selangor’s resistance against Dutch rule in the 18th century, and is considered a revered national hero of Malaysia.

Together with the rest of the class, the ship’s construction was delayed following several design, legal and construction issues. The second LCS actually had its Keel Laying ceremony on February 2017.

The LCS is planned to be the most capable surface warfare assets of the RMN, equivalent to frigates and will be equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems, including the Kongsberg Naval Strike anti-ship missiles and MBDA VL-Mica air defense missiles.

The ship will displace at around 3,100 tons, has a length of 111 meters, a beam of 16 meters, and are powered by 4 MTU diesel engines in Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) configuration allowing a maximum speed of 28 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

[1] Royal Malaysian Navy

[2] New Straits Times

[3] The Star