CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Philippines has taken a major step in strengthening its maritime defense with the formal launch of the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07) at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, Korea on March 27.
The event was attended by top Philippine defense officials, including AFP Chief of Staff Romeo S Brawner Jr, Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, and DND Undersecretary Salvador Melchor B Mison Jr, along with HHI CEO Lee Sang Kyun.
The BRP Diego Silang, named after the Filipino revolutionary hero, is the sister ship of BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), which also departed Korea today and is expected to arrive at the Subic Shipyard on April 8.
Both vessels, equipped with advanced weapons and radar systems, are part of the Philippine Navy’s ₱28-billion modernization contract with HHI, signed in 2021. These warships significantly enhance the country’s naval capabilities amid growing security challenges in the West Philippine Sea.
The addition of these two 3,200-ton corvettes reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to regional stability and defense cooperation with South Korea.
This launch coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, a poignant reminder of the longstanding friendship and shared history between the Philippines and South Korea where Filipino troops fought to defend South Korea's sovereignty.
