The future BRP Miguel Malvar is seen here at its launch ceremony on 18 June 2024. (Hyundai Heavy Industries)
South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the first of two 3,200 tonne corvettes on order for the Philippine Navy.
A ceremony to float out the vessel that will be in service as BRP Miguel Malvar once commissioned was held on 18 June at the shipbuilder's facilities in Ulsan, South Korea, the company disclosed in a statement provided to Janes on the next day.
In the statement, HHI also disclosed that a keel-laying ceremony for the second vessel was held on 14 June with delivery of this ship scheduled for 2025.
Manila signed a PHP28 billion (USD505 million) contract for two new corvettes with HHI in 2021.
Derived from HHI's HDC-3100 concept but tailored for the Philippine Navy's requirements, the corvette has an overall length of 118.4 m, a width of 14.9 m, a cruising speed of 15 kt, a range of 4,500 n miles, and a top speed of about 25 kt.
In its statement, HHI has given no further details on the combat systems that will be fitted on the corvette, besides indicating that the warships would be fitted with “advanced weapon systems such as anti-ship missiles, vertical launch systems, and 3D AESA [active electronically scanned array] radar”.
However, the original HDC-3100 concept can be equipped with 16 vertical launch system (VLS) cells in the forward section, a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position, a close-in weapon system (CIWS) turret in the aft section, and up to eight anti-ship missile launchers amidships.
Miguel Malvar will undergo sea trials and outfitting before being delivered to the Philippine Navy by 2025, said HHI in its statement.
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