FF-150 BRP Jose Rizal - Program
The Philippines and South Korean shipbuilder HHI signed a PHP16-billion contract for two missile-armed frigates with another PHP2 billion set aside for its weapon systems and munition on 24 October 2016. The contract agreement was signed by Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Major Marlon B. Dayao, Comm. Robert A. Empedrad, Kisun Chung (Executive Vice President HHI) and Jae R. Kim (Senior Sales Officer of HHI’s Special and Naval Shipbuilding Division). Navy spokesperson Captain Jonathan Zata said these frigates will help secure the country's maritime chokepoints or primary sea routes used for trade, logistics, and naval operations for all forms of threats. "These frigates are built based on the Incheon/FFX-I/HDF-3000-type multi-purpose frigate of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), which offers increased operational performance and enhanced survivability," he added.
With its accumulated warship technology, HHI operates as one of the most reputable naval shipbuilders in the world. As a key supplier to the Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN) and the Korean Coast Guard (KCG), HHI is currently executing major ship construction projects for ROKN such as Multi-purpose Frigates (FFX Batch-II / III), Fleet support vessel (AOE-II), the 1,800 ton Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) submarines (KSS-II / KSS-III).
For most of 2017, the project was stalled at the Critical Design Review (CDR) stage after the Navy and HHI raised conflicting concerns on the combat management system (CMS) to be installed on the frigates. HHI, citing a provision in the contract, claimed “sole right” to choose the CMS maker and selected fellow South Korean company Hanwha Systems as the preferred supplier. On the other hand, former Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado said that the PN preferred the Tacticos system made by Thales of The Netherlands.
The Senate on 19 February 2018 started a probe into the alleged controversies surrounding the PHP16-billion acquisition of two Philippine Navy frigates. The investigation by the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, headed by Senator Gregorio Honasan, as well as the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, sought to determine whether the acquisition of the combat ships “promotes the goals of the modernization program and complies with pertinent laws”. The investigation was initiated by opposition lawmakers in the Senate — Minority Leader Franklin Drilon along with Senators Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, and Antonio Trillanes IV.
A committee under the Department of National Defense (DND) approved the Critical Design Review (CDR) of its PHP18-billion Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) which is under contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the Philippine Navy confirmed 05 April 2018. PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC), headed by Commodore Alberto Carlos, approved the CDR of the project 23 March 2017. The CDR was handed to the TIAC in January. It would serve as the "bible" of the shipbuilder while constructing the frigates. The TIAC acceptance of the CDR marked a significant step forward and a major milestone for the project which consists of the approval of 71 critical detailed design drawings as submitted by HHI. These drawings shall then be the basis of HHI to proceed with the project.
The steel-cutting for BRP Jose Rizal took place in April 1, 2018 while the same ceremony for BRP Antonio Luna transpired on November the same year. This event officially signified the start of the actual construction of the frigates. Hyundai Heavy Industries held a keel-laying ceremony for the first of two frigates built for the Philippine Navy under the Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP). The ceremony took place in Ulsan, South Korea, on 16 October 2018.
BRP Jose Rizal's first sea trials took place off the open waters of Ulsan, Busan, and Mokpo in South Korea and done to measure its performance and general seaworthiness. Present were the technical crew of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) along with representatives from the international provider of classification, compliance and consultancy services to the marine industry, Lloyd's Register of Shipping. This took place six months after the vessel was launched at the HHI shipyard for the first time in Ulsan 23 May 2019.
The first sea trials of BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country's first-ever guided-missile frigate, proved successful. BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country's first guided-missile frigate, exceeded design speed at endurance range during the ship's initial sea trial which was held last November 23 to 27 off South Korean waters. "During the first sea trials, BRP Jose Rizal's speed was higher than her design speed at endurance range," Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said. BRP Jose Rizal has a maximum designed speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles.
"The first sea trials (which took place last November 23 to 27) was successful even in Sea State 4 conditions," Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said in a message to the Philippine News Agency. Sea State 4 refers to conditions at sea where waves are reaching four to eight feet in height. BRP Jose Rizal can withstand up to Sea State 7 or conditions with very high waves. "Another set of sea trials is tentatively scheduled for December 16," Roxas added. Roxas said the sea trials are the last phase of construction before the frigate’s delivery to the Philippines scheduled tentatively in April or May 2020. "The PHP8-billion warship is a big-ticket acquisition of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that is poised to be the benchmark of PN’s transformation journey," she added.
"Our second frigate will be launched in September. By that time, the first frigate (BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) will be finished (fitting its equipment)," said Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad during an interview with reporters at the PN headquarters at Naval Station Jose Andrada, Roxas Boulevard, Manila 28 August 2019. The launching ceremonies took place at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.
The Philippine Navy's (PN) second missile frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), was launched in the HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea 08 November 2019. BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) was expected to be delivered by September or October 2020. The contract for the two ships was pegged at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.
The country's first missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), was to lead the Philippine Navy (PN) contingent to the International Fleet Review (IFR) off the waters of Manila Bay in May 2020. "We are expecting our first frigate, the Jose Rizal class frigate. Initially, we are expecting that ship to be here by about the third or fourth (week) of April. So if the IFR is May 21, we expect the Jose Rizal-class frigate to lead the convoy and the reviewing ships will be our Tarlac-class landing-dock," PN flag-officer-in-command Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency 20 February 2020.
Bacordo said the IFR will be held off Manila Bay near Corregidor and Bataan. Since the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) will coincide with the PN founding anniversary on May 20, he said that participating Navy heads would be invited to their Navy Ball. BRP Jose Rizal was conducting its last and sixth sea trials off South Korean waters which is expected to be concluded sometime this week. Once these tests are concluded, the ship started preparations to go home.
The manufacturer of BRP Jose Rizal, one of the two brand-new frigates ordered by the Philippine Navy from South Korea, committed to deliver the warship by April, five months ahead of the official contract date of delivery. “Per informal talks with the HHI [Hyundai Heavy Industries], they have committed [to deliver it on the] third or fourth week of April,” said Navy chief Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo on 11 March 2020, noting that based on the official contract, the contractor was obligated to give the Navy its brand-new frigate in September.
The Philippine Navy's first missile-ready warship arrived on 23 May 2020, in Subic, Zambales. It traveled 5 days from its manufacturer's shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The Navy said the BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) "is capable of fighting the 4 dimensions of warfare." The warship is equipped with missiles, torpedoes, and other weapon systems. Its 107-meter long vessel is capable of anti-surface, anti-air, anti-submarine, and electronic warfare. It has a maximum speed of 25 knots, and can stay out at sea for up to 30 days straight. The Philippines bought it for P8 billion and is said to be the most powerful and lethal of the Navy's warships. The Navy only had 2 warships so far in its fleet. The second frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna, was expected to be delivered to the Philippines in September.
The Philippine Navy (PN) commissioned its second and final José Rizal-class guided-missile frigate in a ceremony held on 19 March 2021 at Pier 13 in South Harbor, Manila. President Rodrigo Duterte expressed hope that the Philippine Navy would be more inspired to demonstrate bravery and patriotism now that it has its second guided-missile frigate named BRP Antonio Luna (pennant number FF 151). Duterte gave his message during the christening and commissioning of BRP Antonio Luna at Pier 13 in South Harbor, Manila. The vessel, which was launched in November 2019 and completed sea acceptance trials off Ulsan on 18 December 2020, joined first-of-class BRP José Rizal (FF 150), which entered service in July 2020. BRP Antonio Luna finished its quarantine at Subic Bay in Zambales after arriving from Ulsan, South Korea on February 9.
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