The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive its first of two new corvettes from South Korea in the latter half of 2025, with the second one arriving in 2026. This marks a significant step forward in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
According to Navy spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos, preparations for the arrival of these corvettes have been underway for months. This includes crew training, organization, and procurement of necessary equipment to ensure these new vessels can operate effectively.
These corvettes, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), are multi-role warships capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. They can operate independently or integrate seamlessly with other modern warships in a Surface Action Group.
The P28 billion project signifies the Philippine government's commitment to strengthening the country's maritime security capabilities. The corvettes, currently under construction at HHI's Ulsan shipyard, will be equipped with cutting-edge weaponry, sensors, and systems to address various maritime threats.
Imagine a sophisticated network – the ship's brain – seamlessly integrating sensors, weapons, and communication systems. This is precisely the role Hanwha's combat system will play aboard the new corvettes being built for the Philippine Navy.
Hanwha boasts a proven track record, having supplied combat systems for over 80 ships since the 1980s. Their expertise extends to the Republic of Korea Navy's FFX-III and KDDX programs, both utilizing Hanwha's combat systems.
The company has actively pursued international partnerships in recent years. A recent memorandum of understanding with Israel Aerospace Industries aims to develop joint export strategies for naval combat systems.
Furthermore, Hanwha's commitment to the Philippines is evident. In 2019, they secured a contract to upgrade the combat systems of the Jose Rizal-class frigates. Additionally, they commenced construction on a new training facility for the Philippine Navy in November 2023.
Now, let's delve into the specifics of these impressive corvettes under construction by HHI. These multi-purpose surface combatants will be 116 meters long and 14.8 meters wide, boasting a maximum speed of 25 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles.
For enhanced detection and defense capabilities, the vessels will feature active electronically scanned array radar and a 16-cell vertical launch system. Their offensive arsenal includes 8 anti-ship missile launchers, a 35 mm close-in weapon system, a 76 mm main gun, and 2 triple-tube torpedo launchers.
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