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BRP Corvette Miguel Malvar officially inducted into service
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
On 20 May, a ceremony of official incarnation in service – BRP Corvettes was held at the Subic Naval Port of the Philippines (Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas). Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) of type HDC-3100. The ceremony was chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who stressed the importance of strengthening maritime potential in the context of national security.
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Implementation of HD Hyundai contract
BRP Miguel Malvar is the first of two HDC-3100 units built by the South Korean HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) company in Ulsan. The contract, worth USD 550 million, was signed on December 28, 2021 with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of the Philippines. The second unit of this series is BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), which was launched on 27 March this year. After entering the service of the sister unit, planned for this year, Polish Navy The Philippines will have a full duo of the units of this series, intended for action in the western direction (ZEE in the South China Sea region).
Sheet cutting for the prototype unit began on 11 May 2023, the location of the keel took place on 22 November, while the launching and baptism took place on 18 June 2023. The ship left the shipyard in Ulsan on 31 March, and to Home port entered April 4, that year.
Modern BRP Corvette Miguel Malvar
Although according to the official classification of HDC-3100 type units are included in the category of corvettes, their actual operational potential and dimensions make them be viewed rather as light multitasking fregates. BRP Miguel Malvar, as a representative of this type, exceeds linear displacement and dimensions of units of type Jose Rizalwhich have remained in service since 2020. With a full buoyancy of 3,200 tonnes and a hull length of more than 118 metres, the new hull shall conform to the standards of platforms intended to operate in open waters with a full range of combat tasks.
Despite similar range and speed parameters (4,500 nautical miles at 15 knots, a maximum of 25 knots), HDC-3100 corvettes gained advantage thanks to systems corresponding to a higher standard of electronic equipment.
Integrated combat systems and modern weapons
The application of the Naval Shield combat management system in Baseline 4.0, developed by South Korean Hanwha, marks a step forward in sensor fusion and effector integration. In this configuration Main radar EL/M-2258 ALPHA provides a three-ordinated image of airspace and water, and supporting navigation sensors Hensoldt Mk11 SharpEye and WRE Elbit Aquamarine systems increase situational awareness and resistance to interference.
The ship's weaponry consists of a single 76 mm cannon, a 16-chamber VLS launcher for the MBDA VL MICA anti-aircraft missiles, two four-capable C-Star SSM-700K anti-ship missile launchers, an artillery direct defense system Aselsan Gökdeniz kal. 35 mm and light torpedoes ZOP K745 Blue Shark cal. 324 mm, fired from SEA TLS type launcher. The addition is the electronic combat system with the firing ranges of the apparent Terma C-Guard targets.
New chapter for Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas
Incarnation of the BRP Miguel Malvar This is an important step in the modernisation process. Philippines Maritime Forces. During the ceremony, President Marcos Jr. stressed that new ships are of fundamental importance for the protection of state sovereignty and the realisation of strategic interests in the waters of the exclusive economic zone.
Analysts such as Chester Cabalza of IDSC, in turn, emphasise the importance of these investments for defence self-sufficiency and the future of the Philippine shipbuilding industry.
Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz
