Philippines receives first Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel from South Korea.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), the first of six offshore patrol vessels ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, arrived in the Philippines on January 17, 2026, and was met by the guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) off Zambales.

On January 19, 2026, the Philippine Navy confirmed the arrival of the future BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), the first of six offshore patrol vessels ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, after completing its delivery transit from Ulsan, South Korea. The ship will undergo inspection and acceptance procedures before commissioning, marking the first completed delivery under the ₱30 billion offshore patrol vessel contract signed in 2022.
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The Rajah Sulayman can remain at sea far longer and further from home ports than older Jacinto-class patrol vessels, enabling sustained maritime domain presence, surveillance, and interdiction operations in the country’s expansive archipelagic waters. (Picture source: Philippine Navy)

The first of six offshore patrol vessels ordered from South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, arrived in the Philippines on January 17, 2026, after departing Ulsan on January 13, 2026, and completing its delivery transit. The vessel entered Philippine waters and was met off the coast of Zambales by the guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) in accordance with standard naval procedures applied to incoming ships. Following this rendezvous, the ship proceeded to begin post-delivery activities, marking the transition from delivery to acceptance. The Philippine Navy stated that the ship is scheduled for a technical inspection and assessment before its official commissioning. Until these stages are completed, the vessel continues to carry the designation “future” BRP Rajah Sulayman. The arrival represents the first physical delivery under the ₱30 billion contract signed in 2022 for six offshore patrol vessels.

The keel of the BRP Rajah Sulayman was laid on February 5, 2025, at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. The ship was then officially launched on June 11, 2025, marking the completion of hull construction and the transition to outfitting and trials. After launch, the vessel underwent fitting-out and sea trials in South Korean waters to verify propulsion, systems, and overall seaworthiness. These activities preceded clearance for its delivery voyage to the Philippines. The ship departed Ulsan on January 13, 2026, beginning a transoceanic transit that concluded with its arrival four days later. The timeline from keel laying to arrival spans less than one year, reflecting a compressed construction and delivery schedule. Formal commissioning is planned only after the completion of inspection and acceptance procedures in the Philippines.

The Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessels originate from the Philippine Navy’s Horizon 2 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, initiated in 2018 to replace aging patrol assets and expand offshore patrol capacity. The program included the acquisition of six next-generation offshore patrol vessels with a total contract value of about ₱30 billion, equivalent to roughly $573 million. After reviewing multiple foreign proposals, the Department of National Defense selected HD Hyundai Heavy Industries under a government-to-government procurement agreement with South Korea, with the contract signed on June 27, 2022. Hyundai’s design evolved from the HDP-1500 Neo concept to the enlarged HDP-2200 and the finalized HDP-2200+ configuration, which was selected for the Philippine Navy. The class is intended to replace older Jacinto-class patrol vessels, while complementing Jose Rizal-class frigates and upcoming corvettes built by the same shipbuilder. Deliveries for the six ships are scheduled between 2025 and 2028.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) has a full-load displacement ranging from 2,400 to 2,450 tonnes and measures 94.4 meters in length, with a beam of 14.3 meters and a draft of about 3.7 meters. Propulsion is provided by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement using two MTU-STX diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers, which allows for a maximum speed of 22 knots at 85 percent maximum continuous rating and a cruising speed of 15 knots. The ship has an operational range of 5,500 nautical miles at cruising speed and an endurance of up to 30 days. Crew complement is set at 72 personnel, supported by automation intended to reduce workload during extended deployments. The hull and internal layout are optimized for long-range patrol and sustained presence missions.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman’s armament consists of a forward-mounted 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid naval gun, which has a maximum range of about 16 km with standard high-explosive ammunition, supported by two 30mm remote-controlled weapon stations, with a range of about 3 km to 4 km, and additional 12.7mm heavy machine guns, which have effective ranges out to about 1,800 m to 2,000 m for surface and light aerial targets. The ship's design also incorporates space and structural provisions for the future integration of additional defensive systems if required. Aviation facilities include a flight deck and hangar capable of operating helicopters up to 10 tonnes as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. Small-boat operations are supported by a stern ramp for a 9.5-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boat and side bays for additional boats. A stern mission area is designed to accommodate modular payloads and specialized equipment. This configuration supports roles such as maritime patrol, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue, and disaster response.

The sensor and combat system suite integrates a Hanwha combat management system with a Leonardo SPS-732 X-band air and surface surveillance radar, supported by a Safran PASEO XLR electro-optical identification and fire-control system. Navigation and ship handling are managed through an Anschütz Synapsis NX integrated bridge system and Hensoldt SharpEye Mk.11 navigation radars. Defensive systems include electronic support measures and C-Guard DL-6T decoy launchers providing infrared and radio-frequency countermeasures. Three of the six ships in the class are planned to receive TRAPS towed active-passive sonar systems supplied by GeoSpectrum Technologies of Canada, expanding underwater detection capability. All six vessels are designed to accommodate sonar integration, even if not initially equipped. Compared with previous Philippine Navy patrol vessels, this Rajah Sulayman-class represents a significant expansion in endurance, sensor coverage, and modular mission capacity.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.