South Korea’s HHI To Build Two New Corvettes For The Philippine Navy

Isa Khan · Dec 28, 2021

South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder, announced today it won an order to build 3,200 ton class Corvette for the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND).

Xavier Vavasseur 28 Dec 2021

Hyundai Heavy Industries press release

HHI agreed to construct and deliver two corvettes for the Philippines according to the requirement of the Philippines by year 2026. This is not the first time that HHI signed contract with the Philippines. For the previous Frigate Acquisition Project in 2016, DND has selected HHI as the contractor. By concluding the contract, HHI showed competitiveness of shipbuilding technology in the field of warships and contributed to defense-industrial cooperation between Republic of Korea and the Philippines.

Considering the covid-19 situation, the contract signing ceremony has been held online. Delegations from Department of National Defense and Navy of the Philippines and Representatives from Hyundai Heavy Industries has participated in the meeting. The ceremony was virtually attended by Philippine Ambassador to South Korea H.E. MARIA THERESA B. DIZON-DE VEGA. HHI has closely worked with the Philippine Department of National Defense since Memorandum of Understanding regarding the implementation of the Corvette Acquisition Project (CAP) signed between HHI and DND since 2019. HHI was selected as a preferred bidder in October 2021.

In particular, the Corvette is a multi-purpose surface combatant with its displacement of 3,200 ton, length of 116m and breadth of 14.8m. Maximum speed is 25 knots and cruising speed is 15 knot with range of 4,500nm. The Corvette have sixteen cell of vertical launching system, eight anti-ship missile launchers, 35mm close-in weapon system, a 76mm main gun, Two three-tube torpedo launchers and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. By reflecting the experience of building the frigates recently delivered to the Philippines to the construction of this corvette, HHI is planning to maintain trust in quality and performance of the combatants.

Mr. Sanghoon Nam of COO of Naval and Special Ship business unit of HHI said:

“I feel proud of the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea Defense industry cooperation getting stronger day by day, and HHI will continue to cooperate as a reliable partner in the Armed Forces of the Philippine Modernization program.”

Since constructing and delivering the first Korean-built frigate ROKS Ulsan in 1980, HHI has solidified its position as a leading naval shipbuilder in Korea by delivering a variety of naval ships including Aegis destroyers, multipurpose frigates, submarines, and patrol/salvage ships.

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Naval News comments:
The two in-service BRP Jose Rizal-class frigates are based on the “HDF 2600” Frigate design (107m, 2600t) by HHI while the new corvettes are based on the larger and heavier “HDC 3100” design (115m, 3100t). According to our information, the new corvettes are likely to be fitted with VL Mica surface-to-air missiles by MBDA and C Star anti-ship missiles by LIG Nex1.