Jakarta — Indonesia’s House of Representatives greenlit a patrol boat donation from Japan valued at 1.9 billion yen, or about Rp205 billion, during a plenary session Thursday. Lawmakers voted to accept the 18M Class vessel for the Indonesian Navy as part of Japan’s Official Security Assistance program.

Deputy Chair of House Commission I Dave Akbarshah Fikarno announced the decision after discussions with the Defense Ministry. “DPR Commission I has agreed to accept the 18M Class Patrol Boat grant worth 1.9 billion yen from the Japanese government for the Indonesian Navy,” Fikarno, a Golkar Party politician, told the session at the DPR Complex.

The approval followed a request from Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin dated November 24, 2025. Indonesian law requires parliamentary consent for foreign gifts or loans of defense equipment. Commission I reviewed the proposal with government officials on February 10, 2026.

House Speaker Puan Maharani presided over the plenary, where members also scrapped plans for a separate grant from South Korea. The Defense Ministry notified lawmakers of the cancellation in a letter dated January 27, 2026.

Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto praised the Japanese boat’s suitability for Indonesia’s waters. “This patrol boat is fast and agile, making it very suitable for operation in Indonesian waters,” he said after a February 10 meeting with Commission I at the DPR Complex.

Taufanto stressed the grant’s benefits. Indonesia’s vast archipelago faces security risks that demand quick-response vessels, he noted. The donation carries no financial burden, as it requires zero state expenditure.

From a diplomatic angle, the deal bolsters ties. “This grant will strengthen Indonesia’s cooperation with Japan, especially between the Ministry of Defense,” Taufanto added.

The navy will gain a modern asset without tapping national funds. Japan’s OSA initiative aims to support partner nations’ security needs. Indonesian officials view the boat as a direct boost to maritime patrols amid regional tensions.

Fikarno’s report confirmed all procedural steps met. The plenary’s unanimous support signals strong bipartisan backing for enhanced naval capabilities.