June 8, 2026: The Philippines has engaged the South Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries to build six 3,200 ton Miguel Malvar class Frigates. Currently two of these frigates have been completed with four more to be built. These ships are 177 meters long, have a maximum speed of 45 kilometers an hour and require a crew of 110-120 personnel.

Armament consists of 16 VLS/Vertical Launch System cells for short-range MICA surface-to-air missiles with a range of 20 kilometers, eight SSM-700K C-Star/Haesung anti-ship missiles with a range of 180 kilometers. There is one 76-mm dual-purpose cannon with a range of 16 to 40 kilometers depending on the type of shell used and one twin-barrel 35-mm Gokdeniz close-in weapon system with a range of 4,000 meters. The frigate is capable of carrying a helicopter.

Electronics include an EL/M-2258 Advanced Lightweight Phased-Array radar, as well as navigation, air and surface search radars. Navigation equipment includes GPS and seafaring software.

The current Philippines fleet consists of three Japanese Abukuma class destroyers that were built in the early 1990s and are expected to start arriving in the Philippines next year. The Philippines also has one Corvette, eight Offshore Patrol Vessels, 27 amphibious ships and craft, 16 auxiliary ships and five miscellaneous ships. The navy also has 25 fixed wing and helicopter aircraft and eight large drones.