Philippines awards contract to South Korean shipbuilder for six offshore patrol vessels

SEOUL — The Philippine Defence Department has awarded a contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries to build six 2400-ton offshore patrol vessels, the South Korean company announced June 27, as well as a deal for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of two frigates that the shipbuilder previously delivered .

Under the 744.9 billion won (U.S. $573.8 million) contract, HHI’s Ulsan shipyard in South Korea is charged with delivering six Wonhae vessels to the Philippine Navy by 2028.

They will measure 94.4 meters long and 14.3 meters wide, and have a maximum speed of 22 knots (25 mph) and a cruising speed of 15 knots (58 mph). Their cruising range reaches to 5,500 nautical miles (6329 miles). Each OPV will be armed with one 76mm gun and two 30mm guns. They also feature a deck from which helicopters or UAVs can operate.

Earlier this month, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his Philippine counterpart Delfin Lorenzana talked on the phone to discuss the direction of bilateral defense cooperation and South Korean-made offshore patrol vessels.

In addition to Lorenzana, those attending the recent signing ceremony included Sam-hyeon Ga, vice chairman of HHI subsidiary Korea Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering; Sang-Hoon Nam, who leads an HHI shipbuilding division; In-cheol Kim, ambassador to the Philippines; and Philippine Navy Adm. Bernard Valencia.

In 2016, HHI delivered two frigates to the Philippines, and last year it signed a contract to build two corvettes for the country.

Daehan Lee was a South Korea correspondent for Defense News. He had previously worked at the U.S. and Belgian embassies in Seoul, for the People Power Party, and for election camps. He also served as a translator for the South Korean Navy. His interests include Asia-Pacific security, defense acquisition, South Korean politics and foreign policy.

首尔——韩国现代重工于6月27日宣布，菲律宾国防部已授予该公司一份合同，建造六艘2400吨级的近海巡逻舰，此外还签署了一份合同，负责维护、修理和大修该公司此前交付的两艘护卫舰。

根据价值 7449 亿韩元（5.738 亿美元）的合同，现代重工位于韩国蔚山的造船厂负责在 2028 年前向菲律宾海军交付六艘元海级舰艇。

它们长94.4米，宽14.3米，最高航速22节（25英里/小时），巡航速度15节（58英里/小时），续航里程达5500海里（6329英里）。每艘近海巡逻舰（OPV）都将配备一门76毫米舰炮和两门30毫米舰炮，并设有可供直升机或无人机起降的甲板。

本月初，韩国国防部长李钟燮与菲律宾国防部长德尔芬·洛伦扎纳通电话，讨论了双边防务合作的方向以及韩国制造的近海巡逻舰。

除了洛伦扎纳之外，出席最近签约仪式的还有：现代重工子公司韩国造船海洋工程公司副董事长贺三铉；现代重工造船部门负责人南相勋；韩国驻菲律宾大使金仁哲；以及菲律宾海军上将伯纳德·瓦伦西亚。

2016 年，现代重工向菲律宾交付了两艘护卫舰；去年，该公司与菲律宾签订合同，建造两艘轻型护卫舰。

李大汉曾任《防务新闻》驻韩国记者。此前，他曾在美国和比利时驻首尔大使馆、国民力量党以及多个选举营地工作。他还曾担任韩国海军的翻译。他的研究领域包括亚太安全、国防采购、韩国政治和外交政策。