The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive two brand-new naval ships from 2025 to 2026, an official said on Wednesday.
These corvettes are worth P28 billion and are designed to be capable of conducting anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare missions. PN vice commander Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, in an interview with DZBB said: “We have a lot of naval ships coming. In 2025 and 2026, we will be receiving two brand-new corvettes from South Korea.”
Valencia said these brand-new missile corvettes are expected to backstop the two Jose Rizal-class missile frigates – the BRP Jose Rizal and the BRP Antonio Luna that are currently in service.
He was referring to the corvette acquisition program of the Department of National Defense (DND), which was formally awarded to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries on Dec. 28, 2021.
Valencia noted that from 2026 to 2028, the PN would also start receiving six brand-new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) worth P30 billion and awarded to HHI on June 28, 2022.
“At pagdating po ng 2026-2028, we expect to receive six more brand new OPVs. Come 2026-2028, we expect to receive six more brand-new OPVs. The main purpose of the OPV is to patrol the seas,” he added.