HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has launched BRP Rajah Humabon, the third of six 2,400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) built for the Philippine Navy.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries press release
Marking another milestone in a decade-long defense partnership, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) launched the BRP Rajah Humabon, the third of six 2,400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) built for the Philippine Navy, at its primary shipyard in Ulsan on Monday.
The ceremonial launching—HD HHI’s first export naval vessel launch of the year—was attended by prominent diplomatic and military leaders from both nations, including Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy; Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea; Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan, Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and Won-ho Joo, President & Head of Naval & Medium Size Ships Business Unit at HD HHI.
Named after the 16th-century ruler of Cebu who played a pivotal role in early Philippine history, the Rajah Humabon is scheduled for official delivery in February 2027.
Advanced Maritime Capabilities
Designed to enhance maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities across the Philippine archipelago, the state-of-the-art 2,400-ton vessel measures 94 meters in length and 14 meters in width. Capable of maintaining a cruising speed of 15 knots (approximately 28 km/h) with an impressive operational range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 km), the patrol ship is built for extended endurance at sea.
The vessel is equipped with advanced defense systems, including a 76mm main naval gun, a 30mm secondary gun, decoy launching systems, surveillance radar, and electro-optical tracking equipment.
A Decade of Naval Partnership
The launch of the Rajah Humabon marks a decade of continuous naval cooperation between HD HHI and the Philippine Armed Forces. The relationship began in 2016 with a milestone contract for the Philippine Navy’s first modern frigates. Since then, HD HHI has secured orders for 12 naval vessels from the Philippines—comprising four frigates, two corvettes, and six OPVs—six of which have already been delivered.
The first vessel in this OPV class, the Rajah Sulayman, was delivered in February ahead of its scheduled deadline, while the second, the Rajah Lakandula, was commissioned into active service in June. The remaining three vessels (numbers 4 through 6) are scheduled for sequential delivery through 2028.
“With the trust placed in us by the Philippines, we have established ourselves as a steadfast partner in the modernization of the Philippine Navy by delivering six vessels on time or ahead of schedule,” said Won-ho Joo, President & Head of Naval & Medium Size Ships Business Unit at HD HHI. “We will continue to fulfill our role as a strategic partner, ensuring stable operational support through maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.”
Beyond Ship Construction: MRO and Global Expansion
The collaboration between South Korea and the Philippines has evolved beyond shipbuilding into long-term sustainment. In November 2022, HD HHI established a dedicated Logistics Support Center at the Subic Naval Base in the Philippines, providing spare parts storage and technical training facilities to support the operational readiness of previously delivered frigates.
HD HHI is leveraging its successful track record in the Philippines to expand its global naval enterprise, pursuing a strategy termed the “Pan-Pacific Belt.” This initiative focuses on establishing localized construction frameworks, standardized technology transfer packages, and strategic regional partnerships in key defense markets, including Peru, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
Demonstrating this global momentum, HD HHI recently launched the Chimbote, the Peruvian Navy’s new landing support ship, at the SIMA Shipyard in Peru.
