Philippine Navy Newest Warship–Sea Trials Successful

The first sea trials of BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country’s first-ever guided-missile frigate, confirmed successfully.

According to Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, the first sea trials which took place last November 23 to 27 were successful. Even the tests reach Sea State 4 conditions.

Sea State 4 points to conditions at sea where waves are reaching four to eight feet in height. BRP Jose Rizal can withstand up to Sea State 7 or conditions with very high waves. Another set of sea trials is tentatively scheduled for December 16, Roxas added.

BRP Jose Rizal’s first sea trials took place off the open waters of Ulsan, Busan, and Mokpo in South Korea and done to measure its performance and general seaworthiness.

Present were the technical crew of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) along with representatives from the international provider of classification, compliance and consultancy services to the marine industry, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

Roxas said the sea trials are the last phase of construction before the frigate’s delivery to the Philippines scheduled tentatively in April or May 2020.

This took place six months after the vessel was launched at the HHI shipyard for the first time in Ulsan last May 23.

The contract for the two ships was secured at PHP16 billion with another Php 2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.

The BRP Jose Rizal (FF-15) and the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) frigates will be fitted with surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, torpedoes, launchers, and weapon systems for 4-dimensional warfare.