Philippine Navy commissions first Jose Rizal-class frigate

The Philippine Navy has commissioned its first Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate.

The South Korean-built warship, which was launched in May 2019, was inducted in a handover, christening, and commissioning ceremony on 10 July at Alava Wharf in Subic Bay. It arrived in Subic Bay on 23 May after departing from Ulsan, South Korea, about five days prior.

The Philippine Navy’s first Jose Rizal-class frigate, BRP Jose Rizal, which was commissioned on 10 July. (Philippine Navy)

BRP Jose Rizal (150) is the first of two frigates ordered from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) under a USD337 million contract that was signed in 2016. It is based on HHI’s HDF-3000 concept, which is in turn a variant of the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN’s) Incheon (FFX-I) class.

The 2,600-tonne frigate has an overall length of 107.5 m, an overall beam of 13 m, and hull draught of 6.9 m. Powered by four diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion configuration, it can attain a top speed of 25 kt, and a standard range of 4,500 n miles at 15 kt. It has a crew complement of 65.

Jose Rizal has been armed with a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position and one 30 mm ‘SMASH’ remote-controlled stabilised gun system from Turkey’s Aselsan in the aft section. It will also be equipped with two SIMBAD-RC launcher turrets, one each on the port and starboard sides.

The frigates have also been designed to accommodate a vertical launching system (VLS) in the forward section. However, a provision for this weapon is currently on a fitted-for-but-not-with (FFBNW) basis.