**South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held on 28 March a launching ceremony for the second 3,200-ton Miguel Malvar-class corvette for the Philippine Navy, the ‘BRP _Diego Silang_‘ (FFG-07)** **at its Ulsan shipyard.**
The first-in-class ship, BRP _Miguel Malvar_ (FFG-06), [launched in June 2023](https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/hd-hyundai-heavy-industries-launches-the-philippine-navy-corvette-brp-miguel-malvar/), is set to be delivered on March 31, five months ahead of schedule, according to HD HHI. It is expected to arrive at its homeport of Subic on April 8.
Named in honor of the Filipino revolutionary hero, the newly launched _Diego Silang_ will undergo outfitting and sea trials before being delivered to the Philippine Navy in September 2025.
The Philippine government, in its effort to modernize and strengthen its naval presence, has been pursuing the AFP Modernization Program. Through its Horizon programs, the government has placed an order with HD HHI for a total of ten vessels: two Frigates in 2016, two Corvettes in 2021, and six Offshore Patrol Vessels in 2022.
In addition, the South Korean shipbuilder secured maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contracts for the two BRP Jose Rizal-class Frigates delivered to the Philippine Navy in 2020 and 2021, actively supporting the Philippine Navy’s fleet operations.
> “We are very pleased to have successfully launched the second patrol vessel for the Philippines, following the first,”
> “We will continue to actively support the successful modernization of the Philippine military.”
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> Sang-kyun Lee, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
The Miguel Malvar-class corvettes bring more capabilities compared to the preceding Jose Rizal-class frigates. The corvettes measure 118.4 meters in length and 14.9 meters in breadth, with a cruising speed of 15 knots (about 28 km/h) and a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,330 km). They are equipped with advanced weapon systems such as C-STAR anti-ship missiles, vertical launch systems for VL MICA, and 3D AESA radar.
The Miguel Malvar-class corvettes are expected to be reclassified as frigates, given that their are larger than the Jose Rizal-class frigates.