Korean Warship

Steel Cutting for New Philippine Navy Corvettes to Begin in May and November 2023

The construction of two brand-new corvettes to augment the Philippine Navy’s two Jose Rizal-class missile frigates is set to begin with steel cutting in May and November of 2023.

This was announced by Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, who stated that South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is currently finalizing the critical design review (CDR) for the two corvettes.

The steel cutting, which officially marks the start of the construction of any ship, will proceed once the CDR is reviewed and approved by the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC).

The DND had previously signed a PHP28-billion contract with HHI for the acquisition of the two corvettes, which will be capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare missions and will be more heavily armed than the Jose Rizal-class frigates.

The Special Allotment Release Order for the 15 percent advance payment for the Philippine Navy’s CAP worth PHP 3.75 billion was released by the Department of Budget and Management on Dec. 10, 2021