The commissioning and inclusion of the brand-new guided-missile frigate, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), into the Philippine Navy’s fleet will enhance the country’s capability to safeguard its maritime territories, a senior naval official said Wednesday.
“BRP Miguel Malvar is a welcome addition to the Philippine Navy. Her modern capabilities will allow us greater and longer operational reach as we continue to perform our mandate of securing our seas,” Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a message.
Trinidad also said the BRP Miguel Malvar is a “good investment in the security and future of our country.”
The BRP Miguel Malvar is currently the most advanced and heavily armed vessel of the Philippine Navy. Its sister ship, the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), is expected to arrive by June or July.
Displacing 3,200 gross tons, the frigate measures 118.4 meters in length with a beam of 14.9 meters. It boasts a cruising speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 25 knots, with an operational range of up to 4,500 nautical miles.
Designed for multi-domain combat, the BRP Miguel Malvar is equipped with advanced sensors, surveillance systems, and weapons platforms capable of detecting and engaging surface, sub-surface, and aerial threats.
Prior to its commissioning, the Navy’s most modern warships were the two Jose Rizal-class frigates—the BRP Jose Rizal and the BRP Antonio Luna.
