필리핀, 일본의 퇴역 아부쿠마급 호위함 5척 도입 합의 공식 확인

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When Computers Went To Sea | 일본, 필리핀에 아부쿠마급 호위함 6척, 킹 에어 TC-90 항공기 인도 협상중 - Daum 카페

일본, 필리핀에 아부쿠마급 호위함 6척, 킹 에어 TC-90 항공기 인도 협상중

필리핀이 일본 해자대의 아부쿠마급 호위함 5척을 인수받기로 공식 합의했네요. 5척 모두 향후 2 ~ 3년 이내에 인도될 거라고 합니다. 

필리핀, 일본 아부쿠마급 호위구축함 5척 도입 합의 공식 확인

2026년 7월 7일

고스케 다카하시

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필리핀, 일본 아부쿠마급 호위구축함 5척 도입 합의 공식 확인

일본 해상자위대 아부쿠마급 호위구축함 5번함 치쿠마(JS Chikuma). (일본 방위성 제공)

필리핀은 일본 해상자위대(JMSDF)에서 곧 퇴역할 예정인 아부쿠마급 호위구축함 5척을 도입하기 위해 일본과 기본 합의에 도달했다. 이는 일본이 퇴역한 해군 전투함을 외국 해군에 이전하는 사례 가운데 가장 큰 규모 중 하나이며, 일본의 방위장비 이전 정책이 발전하고 있음을 보여주는 또 하나의 이정표가 된다.

길베르토 테오도로 주니어 필리핀 국방장관은 7월 7일 마닐라에서 양국 정부가 사실상 합의를 마무리했으며, 행정 절차만 남아 있다고 발표했다.

테오도로 장관은 필리핀통신(PNA)에 따르면 기자들에게 "행정적인 세부 절차를 마무리하고 있지만, 이미 사실상 합의가 끝난 상태다."라고 말했다.

그는 이번 이전이 항공감시 레이더 체계와 기타 방위장비 제공을 포함한 기존 안보 협력에 이어 일본이 보여준 "우호의 표시"라고 평가했다. 다섯 척 모두 향후 2~3년 안에 인도될 것으로 예상된다.

이번 규모는 필리핀이 당초 최소 3척의 아부쿠마급을 확보하려던 계획보다 크게 늘어난 것이다.

필리핀 해군 전력 강화

아부쿠마급은 1989년부터 1993년 사이에 취역한 호위구축함 6척으로 구성되어 있다. 이 함정은 연안 방어와 대잠전을 주임무로 설계되었으며, 기준배수량 약 2,000톤, 전장 109m, 최고속력 약 27노트의 성능을 갖추고 있다.

광역 방공 미사일이나 헬기 격납고는 갖추고 있지 않지만, 연안 작전에는 여전히 적합한 함정이다. 무장으로는 76mm 오토 멜라라 함포, 팰랭스 근접방어무기체계(CIWS), 하푼 대함미사일, ASROC 대잠 로켓 발사기, 경어뢰를 탑재하고 있다.

필리핀 해군에게 이 함정들은 함대 규모를 즉각 확대하는 효과를 제공하는 동시에, 한국에서 건조된 호세 리살급 호위함과 최근 도입된 미겔 말바르급 호위함 등 최신 전력과 상호 보완적인 역할을 수행하게 된다.

테오도로 장관은 필리핀군이 각 함정의 상태를 평가한 뒤 함대에 가장 적합한 방식으로 편입하는 방안을 결정할 것이라고 밝혔다. 또한 새로 도입될 함정을 지원하기 위해 추가 계류시설과 접안시설 건설도 검토하고 있다고 말했다.

수개월간의 협상의 결실

이번 합의는 지난 5월 일본의 고이즈미 신지로 방위상과 테오도로 장관이 마닐라에서 회담한 뒤 구성된 양국 공동 실무그룹의 성과를 바탕으로 이루어졌다.

당시 두 장관은 아부쿠마급과 TC-90 훈련기를 포함한 해상자위대 장비 이전 협의를 신속히 추진하기로 합의했으며, 일본 회계연도 2027년 무렵부터 시작될 것으로 예상되는 해상자위대 퇴역 직후 호위구축함을 이전하는 것을 목표로 했다.

계획대로 완료될 경우 이번 이전은 점차 유연해지고 있는 일본의 방위장비 이전 제도 아래에서 이루어지는 해상자위대 퇴역 수상 전투함의 첫 해외 이전 사례가 된다. 이는 뜻을 같이하는 인도·태평양 국가들의 해양 역량을 강화하려는 일본의 보다 광범위한 노력을 반영하는 것이다.

일본은 또한 공적안보원조(OSA) 프로그램을 통해 연안 감시 레이더 체계, 고속단정(RHIB), 관련 레이더 장비, 필리핀 해군 기반시설 지원 등을 제공하며 필리핀과의 방위 협력을 확대해 왔다.

전략적 의미

이번 합의는 중국의 해양 활동 확대에 대응해 일본과 필리핀이 안보 협력을 심화하는 가운데 이루어졌다. 양국은 상호접근협정(RAA)을 체결하고, 양자 및 다자 연합훈련을 확대하는 등 방위 협력을 강화해 왔다.

필리핀 입장에서는 아부쿠마급 함정이 '리호라이즌 3(Re-Horizon 3)' 현대화 사업에 따라 신규 건조 함정들이 인도되기 전까지 해군 전력을 비교적 신속하고 비용 효율적으로 강화할 수 있는 수단이 된다. 다만 최근 필리핀 해군이 주로 한국산 함정을 도입해 왔기 때문에, 일본산 함정을 운용하려면 정비 기반시설과 군수지원 체계, 예비부품 공급, 승조원 교육 등 여러 분야에서 조정이 필요할 것이다.

일본 입장에서는 이번 이전이 퇴역한 해군 함정을 활용해 역내 우방국의 해양 역량을 강화하고 인도·태평양 지역의 안보 협력을 심화할 수 있음을 보여주는 사례가 된다. 또한 보다 적극적인 방위장비 이전 정책으로 점진적으로 전환해 가는 일본의 또 하나의 중요한 진전이기도 하다.

고스케 다카하시

고스케 다카하시는 일본을 기반으로 활동하는 국방 전문 기자이다. 그는 *Janes Defence Weekly*, *Jane's Navy International*, *Monch Publishing* 등에 기고해 왔다. 또한 *허프포스트 재팬* 편집장을 지냈으며, *아사히 신문*과 *블룸버그* 기자로도 활동했다. 1993년 게이오기주쿠대학교에서 경제학 학사 학위를 취득했다. 이후 *아사히 신문*과 *다우존스*에서 근무한 뒤, 미국 컬럼비아대학교 언론대학원과 국제공공정책대학원(SIPA)에서 수학하여 2004년 저널리즘 석사와 국제관계학 석사 학위를 취득했다. 1993년 아사히 신문 기자가 되기 전에는 가와사키시 자매도시 교류 프로그램의 연수생으로 미국 볼티모어 경제개발공사에서 근무하며 미일 무역 문제를 연구했다. 1988년에는 이러한 공로를 인정받아 미국 볼티모어시 명예시민으로 선정되었다.

Philippines Confirm‎s Deal to Acquire Five Japanese Abukuma-class Destroyer Escorts - Naval News

Philippines Confirm‎s Deal to Acquire Five Japanese Abukuma-class Destroyer Escorts - Naval News

Philippines Confirm‎s Deal to Acquire Five Japanese Abukuma-class Destroyer Escorts

• Published on 07/07/2026
• By Kosuke Takahashi
• In News

JS Chikuma, the fifth Abukuma-class destroyer escort (Japan's MoD picture)

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The Philippines has reached a broad agreement with Japan to acquire five soon-to-be-retired Abukuma-class destroyer escorts from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), marking one of Japan’s largest planned transfers of retired naval combatants to a foreign navy and another milestone in Tokyo’s evolving defense equipment transfer policy.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on July 7 in Manila that the two governments had essentially finalized the agreement, with only administrative arrangements remaining.

“Administrative details are being finalized, but it’s already a done deal,” Teodoro told reporters, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Teodoro described the transfer as a “sign of goodwill” from Japan, alongside earlier security cooperation that included air surveillance radar systems and other defense equipment. Deliveries of all five vessels are expected within two to three years.

The figure represents a significant increase from Manila’s earlier objective of acquiring at least three Abukuma-class ships.

Strengthening Philippine Naval Capability

The Abukuma-class consists of six destroyer escorts commissioned between 1989 and 1993. Designed primarily for coastal defense and anti-submarine warfare, the ships have a standard displacement of around 2,000 tons, an overall length of 109 meters, and a top speed of about 27 knots.

Although they lack area air-defense missiles and helicopter hangars, the vessels remain well suited for littoral operations. Their weapons suite includes a 76 mm OTO Melara main gun, a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Harpoon anti-ship missiles, an ASROC anti-submarine rocket launcher, and lightweight torpedoes.

For the Philippine Navy, the ships would provide an immediate increase in fleet size while complementing newer assets such as the South Korean-built José Rizal-class frigates and the recently introduced Miguel Malvar-class frigates.

Teodoro said the Philippine military will assess the condition of each vessel before determining how best to integrate it into the fleet. Manila is also considering the construction of additional berthing and docking facilities to support the incoming ships.

Culmination of Months of Negotiations

The agreement builds on a bilateral working group established in May following talks in Manila between Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Teodoro.

At that meeting, the two ministers agreed to accelerate consultations on transferring JMSDF platforms, including the Abukuma class and TC-90 training aircraft, with the aim of transferring the destroyer escorts soon after their retirement from JMSDF service, expected to begin around Japan’s fiscal year 2027.

If completed as planned, the transfer would become Japan’s first overseas transfer of retired JMSDF surface combatants under its increasingly flexible defense equipment transfer framework, reflecting Tokyo’s broader effort to strengthen the maritime capabilities of like-minded Indo-Pacific partners.

Japan has also expanded defense cooperation with the Philippines through its Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, including the provision of coastal surveillance radar systems, RHIBs, related radar equipment, and infrastructure support for the Philippine Navy.

Strategic Significance

The agreement comes as Japan and the Philippines deepen security cooperation in response to China’s growing maritime activities. The two countries have strengthened defense ties through the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), expanded bilateral and multilateral exercises, and broader defense cooperation.

For Manila, the Abukuma-class ships offer a relatively rapid and cost-effective way to strengthen naval capabilities while additional new-build warships are delivered under the country’s Re-Horizon 3 modernization program. Integrating Japanese-built platforms will nevertheless require adjustments to maintenance infrastructure, logistics, spare parts support, and crew training, as the Philippine Navy’s recent acquisitions have largely centered on South Korean-built vessels.

For Japan, the transfer demonstrates how retired naval platforms can help strengthen the maritime capabilities of regional partners while reinforcing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. It also represents another important step in Tokyo’s gradual shift toward a more proactive defense equipment transfer policy.

Tags

• Abukama-class, JMSDF, Philippine Navy

Kosuke Takahashi

Kosuke Takahashi is a defense writer based in Japan. Takahashi has written for Janes Defence Weekly, Jane’s Navy International and Monch Publishing. Takahashi is former editor-in-chief of HuffPost Japan and a former staff writer at The Asahi Shimbun and Bloomberg. Takahashi graduated from Keio University with a B.A. in economics in 1993. After working for The Asahi Shimbun and Dow Jones, he studied at Columbia University’s Journalism School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and graduated with Master of Science in Journalism and Master of International Affairs in 2004. Prior to joining the Asahi as a reporter in 1993, he worked for Baltimore Economic Development Corporation as an exchange trainee to a sister city program of Kawasaki City, and researched trade issues between the United States and Japan. He was awarded an Honorary citizenship of Baltimore for his work in 1988.

[김유철]

질이야 어떻든 필리핀 해군력을 급격히 보강하고 있네요. 다음 단계는 퇴역 잠수함 공여이려나요?

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주려면 줄 잠수함들은 넘치는 곳이 일본이니 진짜 잠수함을 줄 수도 있겠네요 @.@