The Jose Rizal-class frigates delivered under the Phase I program—commissioned in 2020 and 2021—have become the backbone of Philippine naval operations.Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on December 26 that Department of National Defense (DND) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a contract worth USD 578 million (approximately KRW 8.5 trillion) for the Philippine Navy Frigate Acquisition Project – Phase II in Manila.

The deal, a key pillar of the Philippine Navy’s Horizon 3 modernization plan, covers the construction and delivery of two 3,200-ton next-generation frigates by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with handover scheduled by 2029. It follows earlier contracts for 10 Korean-built naval vessels, underscoring Manila’s continued confidence in Korean warships.

The Philippines has emerged as one of South Korea’s most important defense partners in Southeast Asia. Beyond the FA-50 light combat aircraft—procured in two separate batches—the Philippine Navy operates Korean-built frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol vessels as frontline assets. A 2009 bilateral implementing arrangement enables government-to-government procurement, providing a stable framework that has driven successive follow-on orders. Industry observers increasingly describe the Philippines as a long-term “subscriber” to K-defense platforms.

The latest win reflects close civil-military coordination and sustained defense diplomacy by Seoul. Support was extended through senior-level engagements, bilateral defense logistics talks, and major industry events such as ADEX. Momentum was further reinforced during the October APEC summit, where the leaders of both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening security cooperation.

Operational performance also played a decisive role. The Jose Rizal-class frigates delivered under the Phase I program—commissioned in 2020 and 2021—have become the backbone of Philippine naval operations. Their reliability, combined with Korea’s strong maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support and training programs, has earned high marks from the Philippine Navy.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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