“Proud to be the Philippines’ Trusted Defense Partner” was emblazoned on a graphic depicting the Philippine Navy’s current, future, and proposed frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol vessels constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) at the company’s booth during Asia Defense and Security Exhibition (ADAS) 2024.
The South Korean shipbuilder has provided the majority of vessels procured by Manila in its naval modernization efforts since 2016 and is looking to maintain its status as the fleet’s provider of warships in two projects within the upcoming Armed Forces of the Philippines Horizon 3 modernization program and expand into the Philippine Coast Guard’s efforts to bolster its fleet. A total of twelve models were displayed by the company, including a new frigate model and five white hull concepts for the Coast Guard.
Gabriel Kim, a Senior Sales Manager with HD HHI’s International Defense Program, explained to Naval News the company’s efforts with the Philippines in an interview at ADAS 2024.
In 2016, the company won a contract to provide two frigates to the Philippine Navy. The two ships of the Jose Rizal-class, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), were delivered between 2020 and 2021. Since then, the two warships have formed the core of the Philippine Navy, participating in numerous exercises, patrols in the South China Sea, and more. Despite the relatively light armament, and many capabilities not coming with the ships, with the Philippines opting for fitted for but not with spaces for future installation, the frigates came at a crucial time.
Until the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program in the early 2010s, the bulk of Manila’s fleet were composed of Second World War-era vessels. With the procurement of HD HHI’s frigates, the fleet received its first modern and purpose-built warships. The South Korean shipbuilder continued to beat out foreign competitors in the service’s corvette and offshore patrol vessel programs, securing its place as the country’s provider of warships. Today, HD HHI is set to deliver two corvettes and six offshore patrol vessels, bringing the total of vessels that the company will construct for the Philippines up to 10.
Upcoming modernization programs are also set to equip these frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol vessels with air defense, anti-submarine, and potential minelaying capabilities. The two corvettes and six offshore patrol vessels ordered by the Philippine Navy from HD HHI are expected to be delivered between 2025 and 2029.
The last, and largest, phase of Philippine military modernization officially began last year. Divided into three five-year phases dubbed “Horizons,” the original plan was to develop the Armed Forces of the Philippines between 2013 and 2028. However, due to a lack of political incentive and funding, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, the original program has lagged behind and is not expected to achieve its goal within the next four years. Manila has since reconfigured the third phase into “Re-Horizon Three,” which is expected to take another 15 years and cost around $35 billion. According to the United States Department of Commerce, this new effort would be divided into three more five-year periods between 2023 and 2037.
Looking to maintain its status as the main supplier of the Philippine Navy, HD HHI not only highlighted its close relationship to the service at ADAS 2024 but also displayed its proposals for the Horizon Three warship programs. According to Kim, the company expects the Philippines to repeat its original orders of frigates and corvettes, albeit with more intensive requirements. HDF-3500, a design based on the service’s upcoming Miguel Malvar-class corvettes, was seen at the company’s booth. According to the company, the new frigate design improves upon the corvette, with lessons from HD HHI’s construction for the Republic of Korea Navy being implemented. Naval News also understands that the future Horizon Three corvette design would be similarly based upon HDF-3500 to the Miguel Malvar-class’ improvements from the Jose Rizal-class.
One of the displays at the booth contained models of submarines, specifically the company’s HDS-3000 and HDS-600. While Naval News could not receive comment on the submarines, it should be noted that the latter of these designs appears to be an attempt at a cheaper alternative to the Philippine Navy’s submarine acquisition program, which has been criticized by analysts for its price tag relative to the expected capabilities. Other competitors for submarines include Navantia, Naval Group and Hanwha Ocean.
Kim also expressed HD HHI’s interest in constructing vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard. The company brought five designs to ADAS, from a small 570-ton patrol boat to a 5500-ton cutter. Two of the offerings were claimed to be “proven” by Kim due to their active service in the Korean Coast Guard. Another concept displayed is based on the upcoming Philippine Navy offshore patrol vessel design, with enhanced accommodations and less weaponry. All vessels also included spaces for aviation facilities for drones or helicopters. Kim highlighted the benefit of the Philippine Coast Guard procuring HD HHI’s vessels, claiming that the maintenance costs would be reduced as a result of both fleets operating the same designs.
The Philippine Coast Guard fleet currently operates a predominantly Japanese-built fleet of vessels loaned through maritime security programs. Tokyo also provided funding for an additional five 97-meter-long vessels last year to bolster Philippine capabilities in the South China Sea, which has been stressed as China’s larger paramilitary, coast guard, and naval forces damaged the fleet’s patrol boats in numerous incidents.
However, it is unclear where the Philippine Coast Guard will receive the funds for such a fleet expansion. All vessels within its current fleet have been loaned or funded through foreign assistance. If HD HHI were to provide the vessels, it would likely be under a Korean assistance program. Seoul and Manila are reportedly examining this option.
According to the company, the Philippines has been eyed as a regional hub for Southeast Asia under its “Pacific-Rim Belt Vision.”
“HD HHI plans to realize its ‘Pacific-Rim Belt Vision’, establishing regional hubs in countries such as the Philippines, Peru, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States based on its advanced shipbuilding technologies. This will involve forming partnerships, establishing local shipbuilding systems, as well as technology-transfer packages. The Philippines will especially be the key regional hub for the HD HHI’s plan to expand the export of K-vessels,” stated the press release.
