The Philippine Navy (PN) next month will be sending a team of experts to inspect the Japanese JS Abukuma (DE-229) a destroyer class escorts ship capable of  of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

In a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos said the team will composed of surface warfare officers, sea systems experts, financial analysts, logisticians.

“We’ll be forwarding appropriate recommendations to General Headquarters and the Department of National Defense,” Alcos added.

Earlier, the Philippine Navy said the inspection is part of exploratory discussions on the possible transfer of the Japanese naval assets to the Philippines.

“A delegation of naval experts from the Philippine Navy will be dispatched to conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships. The outcome of this inspection will guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the Philippine Navy’s modernization efforts,” the Philippine Navy said.

Based on a report from a Japanese media on Sunday, Tokyo is set to export six warships to the Philippines.

A translated report from the Yomiuri Shimbun said Tokyo and Manila have agreed to the export of six used Abukuma-class destroyer escorts that were commissioned from 1989 to 1993.

The information was revealed by “multiple Japanese government officials,” the report said.

“Defense Minister [Gen] Nakatani and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro confirmed the export of the used escort ships during a meeting in Singapore in early June. The exports are expected to consist of six Abukuma class destroyers of the [Japan Maritime Self Defense Force],” the Shimbun article reported.

Classified as general-purpose destroyer escorts employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the 2,550-ton Abukuma class ships have been in service for over 30 years.

Due to a shortage of navy personnel, they are being gradually retired and will be replaced by new ships that require fewer crew to operate, according to the Japanese media.

“If the export of these used destroyers is realized, it will be the first such case. The export of the destroyers aim to improve interoperability with the Philippine military and jointly strengthen deterrence and response capabilities against China, which is unilaterally advancing into the ocean,” the publication said.