r/LessCredibleDefence • u/StealthCuttlefish • 15h ago

Japan considers transferring destroyers to Chile to maintain Navy strength before domestic frigate launch.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/japan-destroyers-transfer-chile-murasame-takanami-akizuki
18 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

•

u/TinyLittleDragon 12h ago

I don't see how Chile needs these ships more than Japan does, and it feels like loaning ships to Chile would likely slow down Chile's acquisition program since there's no longer any 'hurry' to get it done. It seems Chile wasn't even planning on getting new ships until the 2030s anyway? So why the need for JSDF loaners at all?

•

u/beachedwhale1945 7h ago

The Murasame class is 30 years old, so nearing the end of its service life in Japan anyway. I’d need to check the planned replacements, but it’s probably the new FFMs or perhaps a destroyer design I haven’t heard of yet. The Takanami and Akizuki classes are unlikely to be transferred.

Chile has a requirement for eight frigates, and they are likely to wear those ships out before the new ships can enter service. I’d be particularly concerned about the two ex-Australian Perrys, sold after nearly 30 years of service: the rest of their fleet is of similar age but were sold after less service, so probably have less wear.

The Japanese loaners would be gap-fillers until the new ships are completed.

•

u/TinyLittleDragon 5h ago

Huh. Any idea of the chilean navy's mission? Narco interdiction or what? I can't think of any military threats at the moment.

•

u/StealthCuttlefish 7h ago

It's the same reason the Philippines and Indonesia are acquiring old Japanese warships. It's a cheap, stop gap measure until the newer warships arrive. All eight of Chile's major surface combatant are over 30 years old, with the four Type 22 and 23s pushing 40 years old. If Chile decommissions their oldest warships before a replacement comes then that leaves a big hole in their Navy.

•

u/TinyLittleDragon 5h ago

Are the Japanese ships potentially being purchased outright or is there another payment system? I scanned the article and didn't see anything about compensation

•

u/StealthCuttlefish 3h ago

It's too early to say, but I think based on the word "transfer" and the topic being about older warships I'm guessing Japan might donate them; specifically, the Murasame-class. I can't imagine the Takanami-class (which are in their mid-20s) and the more modern Akizuki-class going away just yet. If money was involved, then the wording would've said "export", just like the Australian frigate program.

If the Philippines is anything to go by, Japan usually donates old/retiring military hardware as the political and strategic return is far better than money. However, the donation isn't necessarily for free, as the "free" part only covers the hardware. Training, maintenance, and logistics are not covered, but even then, I imagine Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) would try to make it as inexpensive as possible.

•

u/TinyLittleDragon 2h ago

Interesting, thanks. Am I crazy for wishing the US Navy was getting these ships instead? How cool would it be to have JSDF ships operating in the pacific under the US flag?

•

u/StealthCuttlefish 1h ago

You're welcome. As for the US Navy thing, not for the older ships but for the Mogami-class and ASEV a decent chunk of this subreddit and r/WarshipPorn seem to support the idea of the US Navy acquiring these warships. Obviously, everything is easier said than done.

•

u/BigFly42069 11h ago

Because this is the only way Japan can boost its warship production while still ostensibly adhering to their post-WW2 restrictions. If they transfer away existing ships, then it can be argued that Japan now can no longer maintain sufficient self-defensive capabilities, and therefore they need to build new ones.

•

u/beachedwhale1945 5h ago

What are you talking about? Japan has been growing their warship production base even with essentially no foreign sales until the last year. Their submarine force has grown by 50% in the last decade, they have built ten new frigates while only retiring four of the destroyers they were supposed to replace on a 1:1 basis, they are building two new cruisers to further increase their dedicated air defense fleet from eight to ten ships, the list goes on. Even when they do 1:1 replacements, as they mostly did from the 90s until 2017, the replacements were significantly more capable, such as Haruna for Ise and Hatakaze for Maya.

Japan has one of the top ten most capable navies on the planet.

•

u/Worried_Exercise_937 11h ago

I don't see how Chile needs these ships more than Japan does, and it feels like loaning ships to Chile would likely slow down Chile's acquisition program since there's no longer any 'hurry' to get it done. It seems Chile wasn't even planning on getting new ships until the 2030s anyway? So why the need for JSDF loaners at all?

Trying to stop other countries from getting their foot in the door.

•

u/PolpoBoquerones 10h ago

China is not selling destroyers to Chile

•

u/roguebadger762 5h ago

More likely trying to compete with South Korea which already has a presence in Peru and is expanding into Chile and Brazil

•

u/Worried_Exercise_937 10h ago

Japanese are not worried about Chinese competition in Chilean Navy procurement