Philippine Navy's first modern frigates to act as anti-air platforms

The state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Philippine Navy chief Rear Adm. Robert Empedrad as saying that the two frigates from South Korea will be employed as anti-air platforms.

Once completed and delivered fully functional in 2020, the two missile-armed frigates contracted from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will serve as the Navy's first anti-air missile platform.

This was the response of Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad when asked if the PN has any "anti-access or area capability" during the Senate hearing on the Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) last week.

"In the current inventory of the PN, we don’t have capability for aerial denial. Wala pa tayong (We do not have) anti-air missile capability na ship that can hit an incoming aerial object. But except for our frigates supposedly kung ma-deliver (once delivered), ito lang iyong (this will only be the) first time that we will have that capability for aerial denial," he added.

The frigates, now being built by HHI, will be armed with weapons capable of neutralizing surface, sub-surface and air threats aside from capable of electronic warfare.

The above-mentioned ships have a contract of PHP18 billion, including their weapons systems and munitions.

In the FAP hearing, issues concerning the brand of combat management system to be installed were discussed. (PNA)