On June 18, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a launching ceremony for the Miguel Malvar, the first 3200-ton patrol vessel built for the Philippine Navy.
The “Miguel Malvar” is named after Philippine independence fighter Miguel Malvar, and Monica Prieto Teodoro, wife of Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, serves as godmother.
The patrol vessel is 118.4 meters long, 14.9 meters wide, it has a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h) and a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,330 km). It has a displacement of 3,200 tons and is equipped with anti-ship missiles, vertical launchers and an AESA radar system.
It is understood that the Philippine Department of National Defense ordered two 3200-ton patrol vessel from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (then Hyundai Heavy Industries) in 2021. The launched Miguel Malvar is expected to be delivered in 2025; the second 3200-ton patrol vessel was started to built on June 14, 2024, and is expected to be launched in December 2024 and delivered in 2025.
As part of its military modernization program, the Philippines has ordered a total of 10 ships from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, including two frigates, two patrol vessels, and six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). Previously, the Philippine Navy also awarded HD Hyundai Heavy Industries a maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) contract for two frigates to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.
An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said, “The company will do its best to participate in the follow-up projects for patrol vessels and frigates in the Philippines’ three-phase military modernization program.”