BRP Miguel Malvar, the newest corvette of the Philippine Navy, launched in Korea

The first of two ships purchased under the Philippine Navy’s corvette acquisition program was launched in South Korea earlier this week.

The BRP Miguel Malvar (FF06), named after the Filipino general, is one of two corvettes delivered by Hyundai Heavy Industries.

In his speech at the ceremonial launch, Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said future acquisitions would be in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, or the government’s plan to improve and elevate the country’s defense through the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Key considerations in these acquisitions include supply chain reliability, redundancy, good corporate governance and overall value for money,” DND said in a statement.

According to Korean media reports, the newly acquired ship is 118.4 meters long and 14.9 meters wide and is also equipped with anti-ship missiles, a vertical launch system and an active electronically scanned array.

The corvettes are part of a £28 billion contract signed between DND and HHI in December 2021.

Teodoro also thanked South Korea for its support to the Philippines amid ongoing tensions with China in the western Philippine Sea.

“The event underscored DND and AFP’s commitment to supporting cooperation with the Korean government to ensure rules-based peace in the Indo-Pacific region. She also highlighted the strategic framework for cooperation and capacity building between the two countries,” the agency added. —NB, GMA Integrated News