ULSAN, South Korea — The Philippine Navy has achieved another critical milestone in its ongoing fleet modernization program with the ceremonial launch of its third offshore patrol vessel, the future BRP Rajah Humabon, at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard.
The milestone event took place on October 13 and was attended by top defense officials, including Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rommel Roldan.
Named after the 16th-century Cebu ruler who encountered Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, the vessel is part of the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project. Vice Adm. Ezpeleta emphasized that the project is vital for bolstering the country’s maritime domain awareness, territorial defense, and security operations.
Prior to the launch ceremony, Ezpeleta met with Republic of Korea Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul at the ROK Navy Headquarters on October 12 to discuss enhanced bilateral engagements and industrial collaboration.
Reiterating South Korea’s commitment to the Philippines’ defense upgrades, Adm. Kim stated, “The Republic of Korea Navy and Korea’s maritime defense industry are actively supporting the modernization of the Philippine Navy.”
The future BRP Rajah Humabon follows its sister ships, the lead vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) and the second ship BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21), both of which were commissioned earlier this year. These vessels are part of a ₱30-billion contract signed with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in June 2022 for six offshore patrol vessels, with the remaining three ships scheduled for delivery through 2028.
Measuring approximately 94.4 meters long with a 2,400-ton displacement and a 5,500-nautical-mile range, the multi-mission ships are engineered for extended patrols, search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, and anti-submarine warfare.