Hyundai lays keel for first Philippine corvette, cuts steel for second

Hyundai Heavy Industries marking the keel laying of the first 3,200 tonne corvette on order for the Philippine Navy. (Hyundai Heavy Industries)

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has laid down the keel for the first of two 3,200 tonne corvettes on order for the Philippine Navy.

A ceremony to mark the occasion was held on 22 November at the shipbuilder's facilities in Ulsan, South Korea, the company disclosed on the same day.

At the event, a ceremony to mark the first steel cut for the second vessel was also carried out.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) signed a PHP28 billion (USD505 million) contract for two new corvettes with HHI in 2021.

The warship to be supplied is derived from HHI's HDC-3100 concept but tailored for the Philippine Navy's requirements. It will have an overall length of 118.4 m and a width of 14.9 m, according to details provided by HHI in its statement on 22 November.

It will have a cruising speed of 15 kt and a range of 4,500 n mile. The corvette will likely have a top speed of about 25 kt.

The original HDC-3100 concept can be equipped with up to 16 vertical launch system (VLS) cells in the forward section, a 76 mm naval gun in the primary position, a close-in weapon system (CIWS) turret in the aft section, and up to eight anti-ship missile launchers amidships.

HHI has since confirmed that the corvettes to be supplied to the Philippine Navy will be equipped with anti-ship missiles, a VLS, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system, but did not mention whether it will have any CIWS turrets or give further details on the launchers.