Ridzwan Rahmat
Key Points
- Hyundai Heavy Industries has unveiled further details of the two frigates that it will construct for the Philippines
- The frigates are set to become the Philippine Navy's most capable ASW platforms
Amid a proliferation of submarines in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines appears to have positioned the two frigates on order from South Korea as the country's primary anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms, new details released about the ships suggest
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) unveiled the details in a press release on the occasion of the programme's contract signing on 24 October.
The platforms, which have been described by HHI as inheriting the main design features of the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) Incheon-class guided-missile frigates, will have an overall length of 107 m and a standard displacement of about 2,600 tonnes.
A computer-generated image released by the company indicates that the platforms will feature two triple torpedo tubes, each located on the port and starboard sides. Also pictured on the flight deck, which can take aircraft of up to 12 tonnes, is what appears to be an AW159 helicopter.
Read the full story at IHS Jane's 360