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Philippine Navy Strengthens Air Defense with Successful Mistral 3 Firing from Frigate BRP Jose Rizal in South China Sea.
The Philippine Navy is strengthening its air defense capabilities with the successful firing of a Mistral-3 missile from the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), a Jose Rizal-class frigate built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The operation took place in the waters west of San Antonio, in the province of Zambales, during a naval maneuver integrated into the multinational Balikatan 2025 exercise. It marks the first operational use of the Mistral-3 surface-to-air missile by the Philippine Navy, a development occurring amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, just days after the passage of the Chinese carrier group Shandong near Philippine waters, as reported by Reuters on April 24, 2025.
Deployed on a remotely operated SIMBAD-RC launcher, the Mistral-3 provides the BRP Jose Rizal with immediate short-range air defense capability (Picture source: Philippine Navy)
The successful firing of the Mistral-3 represents a significant operational development for the Philippine Navy. Developed by MBDA, the Mistral-3 is a short-range air defense (SHORAD) missile equipped with a latest-generation infrared seeker. With a maximum range of approximately 6 kilometers, it is capable of intercepting low-signature thermal targets such as drones, helicopters, and small cruise missiles.
Compared to earlier models, the Mistral-3 features an infrared imaging seeker (IIR) combined with an enhanced image processing system, improving its performance in degraded electromagnetic environments and against low-observable targets. Deployed on a remotely operated SIMBAD-RC launcher, it provides the BRP Jose Rizal with immediate short-range air defense capability, an essential element for a vessel operating in multi-role missions within contested maritime areas.
Designed to fully integrate these advanced defense capabilities, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is the first purpose-built frigate for the Philippine Navy. Based on the South Korean HDF-2600 design derived from the Incheon-class, the vessel was launched in May 2019 and commissioned in July 2020. With a displacement of 2,600 tons and a length of 107 meters, it is built for maritime patrol, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare missions.
Powered by four MTU-STX diesel engines in a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) configuration, it can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots and has an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles, offering substantial endurance. Its combat management system is based on Hanwha Systems' Naval Shield Baseline 2, integrated with a Hensoldt TRS-3D multi-function radar, Kelvin Hughes SharpEye navigation radars, and a Harris Model 997 hull-mounted sonar, providing comprehensive surface and subsurface situational awareness.
The vessel's main armament includes four C-Star SSM-710K anti-ship missiles, two SIMBAD-RC launchers armed with Mistral-3 missiles, one OTO Melara 76/62 mm naval gun for close-in defense, a remotely operated Aselsan SMASH 30 mm gun, and two SEA 324 mm torpedo launch systems equipped with K745 Blue Shark torpedoes.
The ship is also designed to integrate an eight-cell vertical launch system (VLS) — currently prepared under the "fitted for but not with" (FFBNW) configuration — to further enhance its air defense and anti-submarine capabilities in the future. The BRP Jose Rizal is equipped to operate an AW159 Wildcat helicopter, improving its anti-submarine warfare and extended maritime surveillance capabilities. For electronic warfare, the ship is fitted with the Elisra NS9003A RESM system and Terma C-Guard DL-6T decoy launchers.
The firing of the Mistral-3 by the BRP Jose Rizal is part of a broader effort to demonstrate collective deterrence against assertive Chinese behavior in the region. (Picture source: MBDA/Wiki Commons)
The Balikatan exercise, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog, is one of the largest annual joint military exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States. The 2025 edition also involves regional partners such as Australia and Japan, in a strategic context marked by rising rivalries in the South China Sea. Balikatan 2025 aims to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and responsiveness against potential threats by simulating air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious operation scenarios. The firing of the Mistral-3 by the BRP Jose Rizal is part of a broader effort to demonstrate collective deterrence against assertive Chinese behavior in the region.
The South China Sea remains one of the most critical geopolitical flashpoints in Asia, due to overlapping territorial claims involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing continues to assert control over nearly the entire maritime area through its "nine-dash line" claim, which was deemed illegal by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016. The increased presence of Chinese naval forces, notably the recent passage of the Shandong aircraft carrier, is viewed by Manila and its allies as an effort to militarize and control strategic waterways. In response, the Philippines, supported by regional and international partners, is working to modernize its fleet, strengthen maritime sovereignty, and demonstrate the ability to operate effectively in contested environments.
The successful firing of the Mistral-3 from the BRP Jose Rizal thus represents a tangible step in the gradual modernization of the Philippine Navy and its integration into a regional collective security framework. By showcasing modern air defense capabilities, the Philippine armed forces enhance their operational credibility and send a clear message regarding their commitment to defending national interests. This exercise also highlights the growing strategic importance of Balikatan as a platform for joint military training to address emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.