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Philippines’ Most Modern Warship Launched in South Korea

Philippines’ Most Modern Warship Launched in South Korea

The Philippine Navy's new frigate was formally launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipbuilding facility in Ulsan, South Korea Thursday.

Missile-armed frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is the first combat vessel designed and purposely acquired for the Philippine Navy, according to state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Once commissioned, the new warship will be the navy's most modern and powerful ship in service, along with its sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151).

"All of us are equally thrilled that we will soon be deploying a brand-new frigate, with anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air and electronic warfare capability to patrol and protect our vast territorial waters," Navy spokesperson Capt. Jonathan Zata told PNA.

Measuring 351-feet long and 46-feet wide, the ship has a maximum speed of 25 knots and can travel up to 4,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

BRP Jose Rizal is the first brand new Philippine Navy ship capable of anti-warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare operations. Image: Frances Mangonsing/Inquirer
BRP Jose Rizal is the first brand new Philippine Navy ship capable of anti-warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare operations. Image: Frances Mangonsing/Inquirer

The keel laying ceremony for BRP Antonio Luna also commenced on Thursday, marking the start of its construction. It will be the Navy's second missile-capable frigate.

The BRP Jose Rizal is scheduled to be delivered to the Philippines by September 2020 while its sister ship BRP Antonio Luna is slated for delivery in March 2021.

The two new frigates are expected to escort the Navy's landing dock platforms BRP Tarlac and BRP Davao del Sur while on missions, PNA reported.

The combat ships being constructed in South Korea are capable of anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare operations.

The warships would also take over exclusive economic zone protection roles and extended maritime patrol operations.

This model of a Philippine Navy frigate is posted on the official website of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries as one of its main products. Image: HHI/Released
This model of a Philippine Navy frigate is posted on the official website of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries as one of its main products. Image: HHI/Released

 

According to Zata, the ships are also equipped with surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, as well as torpedoes, launchers and weapon systems for four-dimensional warfare.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier announced that the Navy's two new ships will be named after Philippine heroes Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna.

In October 2016, the Philippines and South Korean shipbuilder HHI signed a P16-billion contract for two missile-armed frigates. Another P2 bilion has bee set aside for weapons and munitions.

 

Source : PhilStar Global | Inquirer | Philippine News Agency

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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