Philippines – Pohang Corvette process

Filipino Polish Navy has begun the process to be transferred to ROKS Corvette Andong (PCC-771) from South Korea belonging to the series Flight IV.

More than a year ago Filipino Polish Navy inform of its intention to acquire at least two used corvettes of type Pohang, which would complement its existing submarines, as part of the replacement of patrol vessels from the World War II period and the expansion of the fleet.

Joint audit was carried out at ROKS Andong (PCC-771) which had previously served in the Navy of the Republic of Korea (ROKN) and was decommissioned on 31 December 2020. According to Filipinos, the ship was considered to be in good condition, although not many details and timetables were given to the ship.

If the transfer were successful, it would be a second type corvette Pohang in the Philippine fleet, after they previously entered the line were ROKS Chungju (PCC-762), currently known as BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39).

Corvettes of the type Pohang in the variant Flight IV are armed with a Boeing antiship missile Harpoon, and the air defense system for very short range MBDA Mistral Although these missiles may not be part of the transfer to the Philippine Navy. This is so likely that the Filipinos classify their only corvette of this type as OPV.

ROX Andong was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries and launched on April 30, 1987, and transferred to service in the South Korean fleet on November 7, 1988.

South Korean ships, withdrawn from service in the fleet, are a valuable element of Korea's foreign policy. So far Polish Navy The Republic of Korea has transferred 40 ships to 10 friendly states. They were used as a means to facilitate defence cooperation and exports abroad with countries that received Korean ships. For example, corvettes of type Pohang received, in addition to the Philippines, countries such as Peru, Vietnam, Egypt and Columbia.

Written by TW