In a significant development, the first guided missile frigate of the Philippine Navy, BRP Jose Rizal, has arrived in Ulsan, South Korea, for its inaugural dry-docking and other related repairs under the expertise of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The vessel docked on June 15, 2023, marking a crucial step in ensuring the frigate’s ongoing maintenance and operational readiness.

The maintenance, repair, and overhauling services for BRP Jose Rizal will be rendered by Hyundai Heavy Industries, encompassing the repair or replacement of worn-out machinery parts while diligently fulfilling all warranty claims of the ship. This comprehensive service aims to enhance the frigate’s performance and extend its operational lifespan.

The arrival of BRP Jose Rizal was met with a warm welcome from the crew of ROKS Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995), who are also present at the HHI shipyard. This camaraderie between naval personnel from the Philippines and South Korea further strengthens the bonds of cooperation and maritime partnership.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, previously contracted by the Philippine Department of National Defense, has been actively involved in maritime defense projects. The agreement signed in 2021 was for the construction of two Corvettes, followed by another contract in June 2022 for the construction of six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). This collaboration highlights the commitment of both nations to bolstering naval capabilities and ensuring regional security.

The Jose Rizal-class frigates, including BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), were the result of a contract signed between the Philippines and Hyundai Heavy Industries in October 2016. This contract was awarded to HHI following a successful international tender process. Valued at approximately 15.744571584 billion Philippine pesos (around $311 million), the contract covered the construction of two light frigates, with the price including the ship only, excluding weapons systems.

BRP Jose Rizal, the first ship of the class, was delivered in May 2020 and commissioned into service in July 2020. The second frigate, BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151), was commissioned in March 2021. These cutting-edge frigates represent the pinnacle of modern surface combatants within the Philippine Navy fleet.

According to the shipyard, the design of the Philippine frigates is based on an HHI model, derived from the Incheon-class frigates (FFX-I) being constructed for the Republic of Korea Navy. With a standard displacement of approximately 2,600 tons and a length of 107 meters, these frigates are equipped with a diesel main power plant operating under the CODAD scheme, enabling a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots.

The Philippine frigates boast an impressive array of weaponry, including four anti-ship missile launchers utilizing South Korean SSM-700K Haeseong/C-Star missiles by LIG Nex1, two SIMBAD-RC short-range surface-to-air missile systems by MBDA, a 76mm main gun, an Aselsan SMASH 30mm secondary gun, and two 324mm three-tube torpedo launchers armed with K745 Chung Sang Eo/Blue Shark torpedoes by LIG Nex1. While equipped for future installation, they do not currently have an 8-cell vertical launch system (VLS) for surface-to-air missiles. The frigates also feature a helicopter deck and hangar capable of accommodating a Leonardo AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter,”BRP Jose Rizal, Philippine Navy’s Cutting-Edge Frigate, Arrives in South Korea for Maintenance and Repairs”

The first guided missile frigate of the Philippine Navy, BRP Jose Rizal, has docked in Ulsan, South Korea for its initial dry-docking and related repairs under Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The frigate arrived on June 15, 2023, marking an important step towards ensuring its ongoing maintenance and operational effectiveness.

Hyundai Heavy Industries will provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for BRP Jose Rizal. This includes addressing worn-out machinery parts and fulfilling all warranty claims to optimize the ship’s performance and extend its operational lifespan.

The arrival of BRP Jose Rizal was met with a warm welcome from the crew of ROKS Jeongjo the Great (DDG-995), who are also present at the HHI shipyard. This camaraderie among naval personnel from the Philippines and South Korea strengthens cooperation and maritime partnership between the two nations.

Hyundai Heavy Industries has been actively involved in maritime defense projects and previously signed contracts with the Philippine Department of National Defense. These contracts include the construction of two Corvettes in 2021 and six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) in June 2022. This collaboration highlights the commitment of both countries to enhancing naval capabilities and regional security.

The Jose Rizal-class frigates, including BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), were the result of a contract signed between the Philippines and Hyundai Heavy Industries in October 2016. Valued at around 15.744571584 billion Philippine pesos (approximately $311 million), the contract covered the construction of two light frigates, excluding weapons systems.

BRP Jose Rizal, the first ship of the class, was delivered in May 2020 and commissioned in July 2020. The second frigate, BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151), was commissioned in March 2021. These frigates represent the most modern surface combatants in the Philippine Navy fleet.

The design of the Philippine frigates is based on an HHI model, derived from the Incheon-class frigates (FFX-I) being built for the Republic of Korea Navy. With a standard displacement of approximately 2,600 tons and a length of 107 meters, the frigates are powered by a diesel main power plant operating under the CODAD scheme, allowing for a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles at 15 knots.

Equipped with advanced weaponry, the Philippine frigates feature four anti-ship missile launchers using South Korean SSM-700K Haeseong/C-Star missiles by LIG Nex1, two SIMBAD-RC short-range surface-to-air missile systems by MBDA, a 76mm main gun, an Aselsan SMASH 30mm secondary gun, and two 324mm three-tube torpedo launchers armed with K745 Chung Sang Eo/Blue Shark torpedoes by LIG Nex1. They are prepared for the future installation of an 8-cell vertical launch system (VLS) for surface-to-air missiles. The frigates also include a helicopter deck and hangar capable of accommodating a Leonardo AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter, with two such helicopters ordered for the Philippine Navy.

The dry-docking and repairs at Hyundai Heavy Industries represent a crucial phase in maintaining and upgrading BRP Jose Rizal’s capabilities, further strengthening the Philippine Navy’s operational readiness and maritime defense capabilities.