The Philippine Navy will soon receive two more new 3,200-ton, state-of-the-art guided missile frigates built by South Korean firm HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI).
The $578 million deal was struck between the Philippine Department of National Defence and South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) at the end of last month, as per a recent DAPA press statement.
The Miguel Malvar-class frigates are 118m long, have a range of 4,500 nautical miles, and are capable of 25 knots. They are armed with MBDA MICA ship-to-air missiles fired via a Vertical Launching System as well as C-Star SSM-710K antiship cruise missiles.
They can also fire K745 Blue Shark torpedoes, and sport a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid naval autocannon and an Aselsan GOKDENIZ 100/35 close-in weapon system (CIWS). The warships also feature a flight deck for an embarked AW159 Wildcat helicopter.
Under the terms of the deal the new boats are set to be delivered to the Philippine Navy by 2029; DAPA described the Philippines as “a key defence industry partner of South Korea in Southeast Asia.”
The DAPA statement noted: “Having signed two contracts for FA-50 light attack aircraft, as well as the subsequent acquisition of two Korean frigates, two corvettes, and six maritime patrol vessels, the Philippines effectively operates Korean weapons as a primary force in its military.”
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Administrator Lee Yong-cheol commented: “This contract for the second frigate project is a symbol of the Philippine government’s steadfast trust in K-Defence Industries.”
The existing two Miguel Malvar-class frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Diego Silang, were built by HD HHI and commissioned in May and December last year, respectively.
HD HHI also built the Philippine Navy’s two 2,600-ton Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigates, which were delivered in 2020 and 2021.
- You can read more details on the DAPA website