South Korea expressed willingness to finance the acquisition of two more corvettes worth P 30 billion as part of the modernisation programof the Philippine Navy (PN), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana revealed last week.
The Philippine Navy aims to acquire two more small warships under the Corvette Acquisition Project which is part of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program “Horizon” Phase 2.
“Ang two corvettes kasi and yan eh, P 30bullion ‘yan eh and the Korean government is willing to finance muna, tapas bayaran
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
natin through the years, siguro five to 10 years. It’s a very enticing proposal dahlia nag wall tayong outright na pera. We can
amortize it through the years”.
The Defense Chief stressed that the Philippine and South Korean governments have yet to sign a contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), although as early as now, the Philippine Navy is inclined to partner with them in the said project.
The HHI is currently building two Jose Rizal-class missile frigates worth P 18 billion, which are expected to be delivered 2020. It’s leadship, thesemi-stealth frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is also due next year.
Though contract has yet to finalize the said deal, the Navy wants only one company will build our Frigates and corvettes. This will ensure that thesystems and parts are the same, the interoperability, and if something needs to be repaired, it will no longer be a problem since we are dealing onlywith one shipbuilder.
The acquisition of two more corvettes was first bared by Lorenzana Tuesday during the welcome ceremony for the Philippine Navy’s first evercorvette – BRP Conrado Yap – which was donated by the South Korean government to the Philippines. With additional reports from Martin Sadongdong, Manila Bulletin
Pictures from:
https://philnews.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Po-Hang-Class-Corvette.jpg
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2019/08/navy1.jpg
