The Philippine Navy will acquire modular towed-array sonar systems (TASS) for three of its six upcoming Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessels (OPV) for P2.40 billion (approx. $41 million USD).
The Philippines’ budget department recently released an initial downpayment of P240 million for the “Weapons and Sensors Systems Upgrade for the Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy,” referring to the TASS procurement, according to Naval News sources. It is a separate contract from the P30 billion deal signed in 2022 with South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai for the construction of six OPVs.
Canadian firm GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. (also known as GTI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd from Israel) was selected by HD Hyundai to supply the sonar following a contract awarded to the shipbuilder in May 2025, the Naval News sources said. Once installed, these vessels will be the first in the Philippine Navy’s fleet to be equipped with such anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. The TASS is designed to enhance the Philippine Navy’s underwater detection range and tracking capabilities, providing a significant boost to its ASW operations.
Naval News understands TRAPS was selected over the CAPTAS sonar system by French company Thales.
The first OPV, the BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), is expected to be delivered early 2026. The Sulayman-class vessels measure 94 meters in length and 14 meters in width. They have a cruising speed of 15 knots (approximately 28 km/h) and an operational range of 5,500 nautical miles (about 10,186 km). The ships are equipped with a 76mm main gun, a 30mm secondary gun, a decoy launching system, search radar, and electro-optical tracking systems.
The other ships in the class will be named BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21), BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-22), BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-23), BRP Datu Marikudo (PS-24) and BRP Datu Sikatuna (PS-25). It remains unclear which specific vessels will be equipped with the TASS, though a Naval News source indicated the last three ships in the series are the most likely to receive sonar upon delivery. All six OPVs are designed to accommodate sonar system integration.
Naval News first learned of the Philippine Navy’s sonar acquisition plans from various industry sources during the 2024 Asian Defense and Security Exhibition held in Manila. The Philippines has committed to allocate around ₱2 trillion (approx USD 35 billion) over the next decade to boost its military capabilities amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea.
