On 20 May the Philippines Navy (PN), in the presence of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, commissioned the guided-missile frigate, the BRP Miguel Malvar and the BRP Albert Majini which is the first locally assembled missile-capable patrol vessel. The day was also the PN’s 127th anniversary.
The 3,200 tonne BRP Miguel Malvar was built the Hyundai shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. She has a maximum speed of 25 knots with a range of 4,500 at 15 knots. Miguel Malvar is fitted with an Oto Melara 76mm gun, a 35mm Aselsan close-in weapons system, four .50 cal. machine guns, eight C-Star SSM-710K anti-ship missiles, two triple Blue Shark torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare, and 16 vertical launchers for the MBDA VL Mica surface-to-air missile. The 118 metre frigate is named after the last Filipino general to surrender in the Philippine-American War. Her sister ship, BRP Diego Silang will enter service later this year.
BRP Albert Majini is the first locally built Acero class of fast attack class. The previous seven ships were built by the Israel Shipyards in Haifa. Four ships including the Albert Majini are fitted with eight Spike-NLOS anti-ship missiles. A total of nine ships will be in the class.
Sources: Philippines News Agency & National Security Council of the Philippines
