TSAMTO, November 25. The South Korean company HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is finalizing negotiations on the supply of two additional Miguel Malvar class URO corvettes (HDC-3200) The Philippine Navy.
As reported by Armyrecognition.com Citing information from the Korean financial company SK Securities, sources close to the negotiations say that both sides intend to complete the deal in December 2025, which is in line with the current plan for the modernization of the surface fleet of the Philippine Navy and the established procurement practices from South Korean shipbuilders.
As previously reported by CAMTO, in December 2021, the Philippine Ministry of National Defense selected South Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries (currently HD Hyundai Heavy Industries) as the contractor for the construction of two corvettes for the country's Navy. Signing of a contract with HHI worth 28 billion rubles. pesos ($551 million) for the design and construction of the ships took place in a virtual format on December 27, 2021. The purchase was implemented as part of the second stage (2nd Horizon) of the Philippine Armed Forces modernization program.
Work on the lead ship of the series, (FFG-06) Miguel Malvar, began in May 2023. It arrived in the Philippines on April 8 and was put into service on May 20, 2025. Steel cutting for the second corvette of the series, (FFG-07) Diego Silang, began in November 2023. It was launched in March 2025, and arrived in the Philippines on September 8, 2025. After completing training and acceptance procedures, the ship will join the Philippine Navy by the end of the year.
The design of the Philippine Navy corvettes is based on HHI's HDC-3200 platform, but adapted to the requirements of the Philippine Navy. The ship is 118.4 m long, 14.9 m wide, and has a displacement of 3,200 tons. It can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots, and has a cruising range of 4,500 nautical miles at 15 knots. The armament includes a 76-mm AU, a 35-mm ZAK from Aselsan, a 16-container VPU for the VL-MICA air defense system, two four-container launchers with C-Star anti-ship missiles, two three-tube torpedo launchers with Blue Shark torpedoes.
The HDC-3200 project is an improved version of the HDF-2600 frigate, which has already been sold to the Philippine Navy and is in service under the name Jose Rizal. The ships are designed for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, as well as providing air defense, and are more inconspicuous and survivable.
It is expected that the upcoming contract will provide for a high degree of unification of various systems with the first two ships of the series, as well as include an expanded logistics and training package. At the same time, sources familiar with the negotiations note that the Philippine Navy is requesting a number of modifications, including improved electronic warfare systems, sonar systems and an improved control architecture.
HHI has reportedly proposed a more advanced combat control system and flexible modular spaces for future upgrades as part of a "prepared for ... but not without installation" approach (suitable for a specific application).
