Philippines’s first missile-capable warship arrived in Subic, Zambales, Saturday, after a 5-day maiden journey from South Korea.
The FF150 will be named BRP Jose Rizal once it is commissioned to service.
Earlier on Saturday, frigate Jose Rizal was given the traditional passing honors with another Navy vessel, the BRP Quezon, and three multipurpose assault crafts.
The warship’s arrival was presided by Commander Offshore Combat Force Commodore Karl Decapia. Commodore Decapacia said the FF150 “signals the realization of a modern navy” that is capable of imposing its territorial defense mandate.
The sailing crew will undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine as part of national government health protocols to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
The new warship has a maximum designed speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles, the Navy said.
This is the first of the two frigates contracted under Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan city, South Korea.
The second frigate, to be christened BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), is expected to be delivered by the end of this year, the Navy said.
The Palace said the purchase of warship was “part of the national leadership’s initiative to enhance the country’s defense capabilities to secure our seas against current threats.”
“We consider this a breakthrough in the Philippine Navy’s transformation journey in our goal of building a strong and credible maritime force,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque added.
