South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will start construction of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) second missile corvette this coming November.
“The work commencement of the second corvette will be conducted in November this year,” the company added.
The South Korean shipbuilder also said this phase involves the laying of the “first block” of the ship.
HHI also confirmed that the first missile corvette, whose construction started this May, will be delivered by 2025, while those of the second ship is slated for 2026.
“We plan to deliver the first corvette by 2025 and the second corvette by 2026. HHI is on track for the target delivery dates as the construction of the vessels are on time,” it added.
These missile corvettes are expected to support the two Jose Rizal-class frigates now in PN service.
The Department of National Defense (DND) and HHI signed the P28 billion contract for two brand-new corvettes, which are capable of conducting anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare missions on December 28, 2021.
Then DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said acquiring the two corvettes from HHI, where the two Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigates were also acquired, will ensure commonality and interoperability.
The two ships will also serve as backstops for the two Jose Rizal-class frigates now in commission with the PN.
“With a common shipbuilder for all our naval platforms, we expect ease of maintenance and repairs,” Lorenzana emphasized.
