FLASH NEWS: South Korea in final talks for two more Miguel Malvar-class frigates for Philippine Navy.

South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries is in final-stage talks to deliver two additional Miguel Malvar-class frigates to the Philippine Navy, according to information from SK Securities shared via the Para Bellum X account. The expansion would support Manila’s modernization push and further anchor security cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines.

South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries is moving toward a follow-on contract to add two more Miguel Malvar-class frigates to the Philippine Navy, according to new analysis from Korean financial firm SK Securities, relayed through the Para Bellum X channel on 24 November 2025. People close to the discussions say both sides aim to finalize the award before December 2025, a timeline that aligns with Manila’s ongoing surface fleet upgrade plan and its established procurement track with South Korean shipbuilders.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), the Philippine Navy’s newest guided-missile frigate, seen during sea trials off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea, prior to its delivery in late 2024. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The upcoming agreement represents a follow-on to a major naval contract signed in December 2021 between the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) and HHI for the construction of the first two Miguel Malvar-class frigates. That earlier deal, valued at approximately USD 556 million, was signed under the Horizon 3 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP), which aims to transform the Philippine Navy into a more capable and ocean-going force.

Under that contract, Hyundai Heavy Industries delivered the first vessel, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), in December 2024. The second ship, BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), was formally launched in early 2025 and is expected to be commissioned into the Philippine Navy by the end of the year. Both vessels are based on HHI’s HDC-3200 (also referred to as HDF-3200) design, a next-generation guided-missile frigate tailored to Philippine Navy requirements for enhanced survivability, multi-mission modularity, and regional deterrence.

The Miguel Malvar-class displaces approximately 3,200 tons, stretches 118 meters in length, and features a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system. Standard armament includes a 76 mm main naval gun, two triple torpedo launchers, a 16-cell vertical launch system (VLS) for surface-to-air missiles, two quad launchers for anti-ship missiles, and a close-in weapon system (CIWS). A helicopter flight deck and enclosed hangar support rotary-wing operations for anti-submarine warfare and surveillance missions.

The upcoming follow-on contract is expected to include significant system commonality with the first two ships, as well as an expanded logistics and training package. However, sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that the Philippine Navy is requesting several performance upgrades, including enhanced electronic warfare suites, sonar systems, and improved command and control architecture. HHI has reportedly pitched a more advanced combat management system and flexible modular spaces for future upgrades under a “fitted-for-but-not-with” approach.

From a strategic standpoint, this new order would further boost the Philippine Navy’s shift toward a true multi-domain force capable of operating in contested waters, particularly in the South China Sea. With increasing harassment of Philippine vessels by China’s maritime militia and Coast Guard, naval planners in Manila view the Miguel Malvar-class as essential to asserting national sovereignty and maintaining a credible forward presence.

The contract also reaffirms Hyundai Heavy Industries' position as Manila’s preferred strategic naval supplier. HHI previously delivered two Jose Rizal-class frigates (BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna) under a 2016 contract. That earlier class, based on the smaller HDF-2600 design, laid the foundation for the larger and more heavily armed Miguel Malvar-class. The successive contracts reflect growing defense-industrial trust between the Philippines and South Korea, underpinned by strong bilateral diplomatic and military ties.

The financial terms of the new contract have not yet been disclosed, but industry analysts estimate the cost of each upgraded frigate at between USD 550 and 600 million. With the SK Securities report indicating a firm deadline of late December 2025 for contract signature, sources in both Seoul and Manila suggest a formal announcement may come during the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit or through a bilateral ministerial visit.

If signed on schedule, the keel-laying for the third Miguel Malvar-class frigate could take place in the second quarter of 2026, with commissioning targeted by late 2028. Shipbuilding is expected to take place at HHI’s Ulsan shipyard, with components and systems sourced from a mix of Korean, European, and, potentially, U.S. defense suppliers. Philippine naval crews are likely to begin training on simulators and operational systems in South Korea by mid-2027.

With this upcoming acquisition, the Philippine Navy will operate a total of four Miguel Malvar-class frigates, complementing its two Jose Rizal-class ships and expanding its surface combatant fleet to a new operational scale. This step is viewed by naval analysts as one of the most significant milestones in the Philippine fleet modernization program since the end of the Cold War.

According to the latest disclosure, Hyundai Heavy Industries is poised to deepen its strategic footprint in the Southeast Asian naval market, and Manila stands to gain not only new warships but also long-term industrial support, system integration expertise, and broader maritime deterrence capabilities. Army Recognition will continue to monitor the deal’s formal signing, construction progress, and delivery milestones as they unfold in early 2026.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.