Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippine Navy (PN) will deploy its most advanced and up-to-date naval vessels to this year's "Balikatan" exercise with the US military.
PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said that (guided-missile) frigates, the Rizal and Malvar classes, landing docks and fast interdiction craft-missile will be participating in this annual exercise, scheduled April to May.
The PN has two Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigates, both delivered by the Republic of Korea’s shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2020 to 2021, respectively.
The two Malvar-class guided missile frigates, both delivered and commissioned in 2025, are more armed than the Jose Rizal-class frigates.
All four frigates are equipped with sensors surveillance systems and weapons platforms that allow for multi-combat operations; and armed with 35mm Aselsan close-in weapons systems and four .50 caliber heavy machine guns.
Meanwhile, the landing docks are BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), usually used for transport and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN quoted a Navy official as saying that the Philippines and the US are expected to carry out more than 500 joint security and military activities in 2026. These will include large-scale military exercises, maritime operational drills, amphibious landing exercises and defence expert exchange programmes./.
Japan hands over coastal surveillance radar to the Philippines
The equipment was provided under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework. The deal was finalised during the November 2023 visit to Manila by then Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, when the two sides exchanged notes for 600 million JPY (nearly 4 million USD) in OSA funding for the provision of coastal radar systems to the Philippine Navy.
