Hyundai launches Philippines' third Rajah Sulayman-class OPV

Rajah Humabon , the third vessel of the Philippine Navy's 2,400-tonne offshore patrol vessel programme. (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)

South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has launched another Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Philippine Navy.

According to a statement by HD HHI on 13 October, the 2,400-tonne vessel was launched at the company's shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, and is scheduled to be delivered to the Philippine Navy in February 2027.

It will be in service as BRP Rajah Humabon once commissioned, the statement reveals.

Rajah Humabon is the third of six OPVs being built by HD HHI for the Philippine Navy.

The programme's first-of-class BRP Rajah Sulayman was delivered in February 2026, while the second-of-class BRP Rajah Lakandula entered Philippine Navy service in June 2026.

HD HHI said in its statement that the remaining three vessels are scheduled to be delivered sequentially through 2028.

The Rajah Sulayman class displaces approximately 2,400 tonnes.

HD HHI's statement states that the vessels have a length of approximately 94 m and a beam of 14 m, with a cruising speed of 15 kt and a range of 5,500 n miles.

Armament and onboard systems include a Leonardo 76 mm main gun, an Aselsan SMASH 30 mm secondary gun, a decoy launching system, a search radar, and electro-optical tracking equipment.

Open-source images suggest that the decoy system aboard the Rajah Sulayman class is the Terma C-Guard.

HD HHI said in its statement that the company intends to support the Philippine Navy through maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities as part of the two sides' wider naval partnership.