The first José Rizal-class frigate seen here at its launch ceremony. (Philippine Navy)
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the first José Rizal-class frigate on order for the Philippine Navy, and laid down the keel for a second ship.
Ceremonies for both events were held on 23 May at HHI’s facilities in Ulsan, South Korea. José Rizal (150) and its sister ship, which will be known as BRP Antonio Luna
(151) once in service, were ordered under a USD337 million contract awarded to HHI in 2016.
The frigate class is based on HHI’s HDF-3000 concept, which is in turn a variant of the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN’s) Incheon (FFX-I) class. The 2,600-tonne warship has an overall length of 107.5 m, an overall beam of 13.8 m, and a draught of 3.65 m.
Propelled by four engines in a combined diesel and diesel arrangement, the warship can attain a speed of 25 kt at 80% of its engines’ maximum continuous rating (MCR), and a standard range of 4,500 n miles (7,242 km) at 15 kt.
The warship will be equipped with two SIMBAD-RC launcher turrets, one each on the port and starboard sides. Other weapons that will go onboard the warship include a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position, and one 30 mm ‘SMASH’ remote-controlled stabilised gun system from Turkey’s Aselsan in the aft section.
The José Rizal-class frigates have also been designed for a vertical launching system (VLS) in the forward section, and a towed array sonar at stern. However, provisions for these components have been made on a fitted-for-but-not-with (FFBNW) basis.
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