Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), the second guided-missile corvette of the Miguel Malvar-class being built for the Philippine Navy. The launch event took place in Ulsan, South Korea, under a 2021 contract for two new ships designed to reinforce the Philippines’ maritime defense capacity.
Once operational, these new corvettes will function alongside the country’s Jose Rizal-class frigates, also built by Hyundai, enhancing joint surface warfare, anti-air, and anti-submarine engagement capabilities. The keel-laying and float-out mark a transition into fitting-out and systems integration phases.
This effort reflects Manila’s sustained push to develop a credible archipelagic navy, necessary for both layered deterrence and humanitarian operations in turbulent regional waters such as the South China Sea.
