PH Navy to expand fleet with 4 warships, 6 anti-sub helicopters

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy said on Tuesday it will acquire four warships and six anti-submarine warfare helicopters in the coming years under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

The announcement was made during a briefing ahead of the Philippine Navy’s 128th founding anniversary on Wednesday, May 20, which traces the service’s origins to naval forces formed during the Philippine Revolution in 1898.

Rear Adm. Joe Anthony Orbe, commander of the Philippine Fleet, said the Navy’s fleet modernization has significantly extended the time vessels can remain deployed at sea.

“Before, our ships are limited in endurance. A week, at the most two weeks, perhaps,” Orbe said at a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo. “Now… we can stay 20, even more than a month at sea without the need for refueling or reprovisioning.”

He said the extended endurance allows for sustained maritime presence across Philippine waters, including the West Philippine Sea.

The Navy operates more than 80 platforms, including smaller craft, frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), Orbe said.

Six OPVs are in the pipeline, with two already in service and the remainder due for delivery through 2028.

“One will be commissioned on the 29th,” Orbe said, referring to an offshore patrol vessel scheduled for Navy anniversary activities.

“The four will be arriving by 2028,” he said, referring to additional OPVs being built by South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The vessels are part of a six-ship OPV acquisition program under the Department of National Defense’s modernization effort, valued at about P30 billion.

Two OPVs have already been delivered. The second vessel arrived earlier this month and is scheduled for commissioning on May 29 as BRP Rajah Lakandula during Navy anniversary celebrations.

READ: PH Navy marks arrival of future BRP Rajah Lakandula in Subic

The Philippine Navy is also expecting six additional AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine warfare helicopters under its modernization program.

Capt. Ariel Joseph Coloma, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Force, said the aircraft will further strengthen the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.

“We are actually looking forward for additional six AW159 helicopters in the next four to five years,” Coloma said.

He said the helicopters are already operational and have been deployed alongside surface vessels in fleet operations and exercises.

Coloma said the AW159 platform is fully capable of anti-submarine warfare operations.

“The AW159 Wildcat helicopters are full ASW-capable helicopters,” he said.

The Navy also operates unmanned aerial systems for surveillance missions, he added.

Marines, special forces

Meanwhile, the Philippine Marine Corps said recent Balikatan exercises improved coastal defense and maritime strike training with allied forces.

The Naval Special Warfare Force said it is developing drone and asymmetric warfare capabilities while maintaining disaster response and special operations roles.

“We do have upgraded our capabilities in terms of our drone warfare, our asymmetric warfare capabilities,” said Capt. Tirso Binasoy, Superintendent of the Naval Special Warfare Training Center.

Defense support

In a separate statement on Wednesday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said it supports continued modernization of the Philippine Navy as part of efforts to build a more capable and resilient force.

“The DND reaffirms its support for the continued modernization and capability development of the Philippine Navy toward a more capable, credible, and resilient defense force,” it said.

Officials said the planned arrival of new warships and anti-submarine helicopters is expected to further strengthen maritime domain awareness and sustain naval operations across Philippine waters in the coming years. /jpv