South Korea launches second Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigate BRP Diego Silang for Philippine Navy.

During a ceremony held on March 27, 2025, the South Korean company HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) launched the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), the second Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigate ordered by the Philippine Navy at its Ulsan shipyard in South Korea. The vessel is part of a broader effort by the Philippine government to modernize its naval fleet under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
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The Diego Silang features a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system allowing for a maximum speed of 25 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. It is capable of remaining at sea for 20 days. (Picture source: HD HHI)

The Diego Silang is named after Diego Silang y Andaya, a Filipino revolutionary who resisted Spanish colonial rule and declared an independent state in northern Luzon in the 18th century. Construction milestones for the ship include its First Steel Cutting on November 22, 2023, followed by keel laying on June 14, 2024, and launch in December 2024. It is the second ship in its class, following the Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), which was launched on June 18, 2024, and is scheduled to be delivered five months ahead of schedule, on March 31, 2025. Both ships will serve with the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Combat Force and are expected to be commissioned between late 2025 and early 2026.

The Miguel Malvar-class frigates are based on HD HHI’s HDC-3100 design, also referred to as HDF-3100, and are an improved and enlarged version of the HDF-2600 platform used for the Jose Rizal-class. Influenced by the Republic of Korea Navy’s Incheon-class design, the HDC-3100 features a reduced radar cross-section achieved through a smooth hull design, reduced overhangs, and a low freeboard. The class displaces 3,200 tons, with a length of 118.4 meters, a beam of 14.9 meters, a draft of 3.7 meters, and a depth of 7.2 meters. Each ship can carry two RHIBs, more than 100 personnel, and has aviation facilities comprising a flight deck for a 12-ton helicopter and a hangar (starboard side) for a 10-ton helicopter.

Procurement of the two ships was initiated under the Corvette Acquisition Project, part of the Horizon 2 phase (2018–2022) of the Revised AFP Modernization Program. The Philippine Navy sought frigate-sized ships with improved weaponry and sensor suites compared to the Jose Rizal-class. The project was divided into two lots: Lot 1, valued at PHP 25 billion (approximately USD 500 million), for shipbuilding and systems; and Lot 2, budgeted at PHP 3 billion (USD 60 million), for munitions procurement. A variety of international shipbuilders submitted proposals, including Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea), ASFAT (TÜrkiye), Israel Shipyards, TKMS (Germany), Naval Group (France), Damen Group (Netherlands), and Goa Shipyard (India). HHI’s HDC-3100 design was ultimately selected following a government-to-government negotiated procurement process. A Notice of Award was issued on December 15, 2021, and the final contract signed on December 28, 2021.

These two frigates are part of a broader Philippine Navy acquisition program with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Prior to this contract, HHI delivered two 2,600-ton frigates in 2016, followed by orders for two 3,200-ton corvettes in 2021 and six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) in 2022. In total, the Philippine government has ordered 10 ships from HHI as part of its naval modernization effort. Delivery of the ships has reportedly been ahead of contract timelines, including for the BRP Miguel Malvar.

The Diego Silang features a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system comprising four MTU-STX diesel engines and four MTU-STX diesel generators. The ship has a maximum speed of 25 knots, a cruising speed of 15 knots, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. It is capable of remaining at sea for 20 days. Its hull-mounted sonar is the ELAC Hunter 2.0, and it is also equipped with the Thales CAPTAS-1 towed array sonar for enhanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Aviation facilities include a flight deck for a 12-ton ASW helicopter and a starboard hangar that accommodates a 10-ton helicopter.

Combat and sensor systems include the Hanwha Systems Naval Shield Baseline 4 Integrated Combat Management System, the EL/M-2258 ALPHA S-band 3D AESA radar from Israel Aerospace Industries Elta Systems, the Selex ES NA-25X fire control radar, and the Safran PASEO XLR electro-optical tracking system. Navigation radars are provided by Hensoldt UK in the form of Kelvin Hughes SharpEye Mk.11 (I-band and E/F-band). Tactical data links include Hanwha Systems Link P, with future upgrades to Link 16 and Link 22 planned. CCTV systems are supplied by IMENCO through Electrix Co. Ltd.

The electronic warfare suite comprises Elbit Systems’ Elisra Aquamarine Radar-Electronic Support Measures (R-ESM) and Communications-Electronic Support Measures (C-ESM). Countermeasures include two Terma C-Guard DL-12T decoy launchers. Armament consists of eight SSM-710K C-Star anti-ship missiles in two quad canisters, a 16-cell vertical launching system (VLS) for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles, and two SEA triple-tube 324mm torpedo launchers for K745 Blue Shark torpedoes. Gun systems include a 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid main gun, one Aselsan GOKDENIZ twin 35mm close-in weapon system (CIWS), and four 12.7mm heavy machine guns.