Philippine Coast Guard considers Indian-made offshore patrol vessels to expand presence in South China Sea.

According to The Defenstar on August 17, 2025, the Philippines is evaluating the option of locally producing the Indian-designed Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) for the Philippine Coast Guard. The NGOPV is a class of patrol ships with a displacement of up to 2,900 tons and a length of around 110 meters, originally ordered in eleven units by the Indian Navy. Should the project move forward, the Philippine Coast Guard would operate vessels equipped with low-noise mufflers, an advanced electronic warfare suite, an artificial intelligence-based maintenance system, facilities for multipurpose drones, and capacity for a twin-engine helicopter. These ships are designed with long endurance, able to patrol without refueling for weeks, which would make them the most advanced vessels in the Coast Guard’s inventory.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

If the Philippines proceeds with local Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel manufacturing, the decision would meet the Coast Guard requirements, such as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol, interdiction operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, and Search and Rescue (SAR) tasks. (Picture source: GRSE)

The roles of the NGOPV are defined by the Indian Navy as anti-piracy, counter-infiltration, anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, and mine warfare, with additional responsibilities in non-combatant evacuation, search and rescue, and protection of offshore assets. The baseline armament package includes a 76 mm naval gun, two close-in weapon systems, portable air defense systems, and two 12.7 mm machine guns. These vessels are also intended to support mine warfare payloads and allow embarked helicopters to employ lightweight torpedoes, expanding their anti-submarine role. Aviation facilities cover operations for unmanned aerial vehicles in addition to the hangar and deck space for helicopters. The overall design emphasizes a multi-mission profile adaptable to both peacetime security patrols and higher-end contingencies requiring naval armament.

The Indian Navy program to build eleven NGOPVs was launched after delays and the eventual cancellation of the Shachi-class offshore patrol vessel program. The Ministry of Defence signed contracts on March 30, 2023, valued at ₹9,781 crore, equivalent to approximately $1.2 billion, with Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. Goa Shipyard is responsible for seven hulls, while Garden Reach will produce four, with delivery of the class planned to begin in September 2026. Industrial steps included steel cutting ceremonies for the first vessels in early 2024, with multiple keel-laying ceremonies held in 2024 and 2025. Orders for onboard systems were also placed, including BEL Lynx-U2 fire control radars in 2023, BEL EON-51 fire-control systems in 2025, and sensor suites valued at ₹26.73 billion awarded to Bharat Electronics Limited in December 2023. The Indian Register of Shipping is tasked with validation, technical analysis, and classification, underscoring the program’s full domestic integration under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

The Indian Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) class possesses a displacement between 2,500 and 2,900 tons, a length of 105 to 110 meters, and a draught of 4 to 5 meters. The propulsion is provided by two diesel engines, producing a speed in excess of 25 knots, a sustained cruising speed of 14 to 15 knots, and an operational range of approximately 8,500 nautical miles at economical speed. Endurance is listed at a minimum of 60 days, with crew accommodation for 20 officers and 130 sailors, including provisions for four women officers. Aviation facilities consist of a helipad and enclosed hangar suitable for a 15-ton helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicles, with a traversing system, refueling equipment, and night-vision compatible landing systems. In addition, the ships carry modular payloads for mine warfare and are equipped with decoys, torpedo countermeasures, and electronic warfare systems with coverage across the 0.175 GHz to 40 GHz spectrum.

For the Philippines, adopting the NGOPV-class would add to a growing fleet of offshore patrol and combat vessels. The Philippine Navy is already operating Jose Rizal-class and Miguel Malvar-class frigates acquired from South Korea, as well as three Del Pilar-class patrol vessels originally transferred from the United States. In June 2022, Manila contracted Hyundai Heavy Industries to build six Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessels based on the HDP-2200+ design, with delivery of the first hull expected in 2026. These 94-meter, 2,400-ton ships are armed with a 76 mm gun, 30 mm remote-controlled weapon stations, and secondary machine guns, and feature a helicopter hangar for a 10-ton aircraft or UAVs. Together with older Jacinto-class and Gregorio del Pilar-class vessels, they form the current OPV fleet, which is undergoing upgrades with new radars, combat management systems, and electronic support measures. The addition of NGOPVs would provide longer endurance and more sophisticated modular capabilities compared to the existing fleet.

A separate NGOPV line is also being constructed for the Indian Coast Guard, distinct from the Navy’s order. Under a December 20, 2023, contract, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is producing six units designed to displace about 2,700 tons, measuring 117 meters in length, with a maximum speed of 23 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles. These ships integrate artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance, remote piloted drones, integrated bridge and platform management systems, and are classified under India’s Buy Indian IDDM procurement category. Their intended missions cover maritime surveillance, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue, and pollution response. For Manila, this Coast Guard-focused version illustrates an alternative configuration that emphasizes AI-based diagnostics and drone operations rather than heavier naval armament, potentially closer to Philippine Coast Guard needs if local production is pursued.

In considering this acquisition, the Philippines would be aligning with both its modernization program and broader defense-industrial goals. The NGOPV offers a combination of long-endurance operations, modular payloads, and aviation support suited for exclusive economic zone patrol and offshore security missions. Local manufacturing would expand domestic shipbuilding and allow technology transfer modeled on Indian contracts with electronics and system suppliers. Whether based on the Indian Navy or Indian Coast Guard variant, the NGOPV represents a platform adaptable to Philippine maritime requirements, while at the same time fitting into a trend of regional diversification of suppliers and closer defense cooperation with India. The decision remains under study, but the technical and program details already established provide a clear framework for potential Philippine adoption. In the meantime, the Philippine Coast Guard continues to assert its jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone, repeatedly confronting Chinese vessels through interceptions, resupply missions, and patrols amid growing tensions.

On August 11, 2025, for instance, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was escorting supply and aid vessels to fishermen near Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo de Masinloc), when aggressive maneuvers by Chinese maritime forces prompted serious consequences. A Chinese Coast Guard cutter, reportedly using a water cannon while tailing the Philippine cutter BRP Suluan, executed a sharp starboard turn and collided with an accompanying Chinese Navy destroyer, inflicting heavy damage to the coast guard vessel’s bow and rendering it unseaworthy. The video evidence released by the PCG shows this collision and shows the PCG offering medical and rescue assistance by radio afterward, though no response was received. Manila blamed China for the incident, calling it an escalation in the long-standing maritime dispute, while Beijing accused the Philippine vessels of intruding into its territory and justified its actions as necessary enforcement. In response to rising tensions, including this collision, the United States briefly deployed two warships to the area, reaffirming its security commitment to the Philippines and spotlighting the growing strategic friction, especially given that the PCG actions aligned with Manila’s transparency initiative of publicizing such encounters to counteract Chinese maritime assertiveness.