The Philippines has taken delivery of its most modern warship yet, marking a milestone in efforts to strengthen its maritime defences in the South China Sea.
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The arrival of the BRP Diego Silang, a 3,200-tonne guided-missile frigate built in South Korea, offers the promise of greater surveillance and deterrence – even as analysts say the Philippines continues to lag behind its regional peers.
At a ceremony held on Monday in a naval base in Subic Bay, Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr said the new vessel “represents our relentless pursuit of a more capable and credible Philippine Navy. It reflects years of hard work, planning and cooperation with our allies and partners.”
Named for a Filipino revolutionary hero, the Diego Silang measures 118 metres (387 feet) in length and is bristling with anti-air and anti-submarine weaponry – capabilities the Philippines has long sought.
Together with her sister ship, the BRP Miguel Malvar – delivered earlier this year – the Diego Silang forms the centrepiece of a 28 billion-peso (US$560 million) deal with South Korea’s HD Hyundai, signed in December 2021.
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