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HD Hyundai Heavy Industries-Built OPV Commissioned by Philippine Navy, Reaffirming Korea's Naval Export Credentials
The BRP Raja Lakandula, the second 2,400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), was officially commissioned by the Philippine Navy on June 9 at the Naval Headquarters on Manila Bay. The ceremony coincided with the Philippine Navy's 128th founding anniversary and was attended in person by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., underscoring the strategic significance of the occasion.
A Milestone in the Philippine Navy Modernization Program
- Length: 94 m | Beam: 14 m
- Cruising Speed: 15 knots | Range: 5,500 nautical miles
- Armament: 76mm main gun, 30mm secondary gun
- Systems: EO/IR tracking system, search radar, decoy launching system
The BRP Raja Lakandula is the second of six OPVs awarded to HHI under the Philippine Navy's Horizon Modernization Program. Following the commissioning of the first vessel, BRP Raja Sulayman, in January 2026, the delivery of a second vessel within six months demonstrates HHI's consistent on-schedule delivery capability — a critical factor in any defense procurement decision.
The vessel displaces 2,400 tons and is configured for sustained offshore patrol and maritime security operations, with the following specifications:
Purpose-built for the South China Sea operational environment, the vessel is fully combat-ready from the moment of commissioning.
President Marcos Jr. described the commissioning as "a milestone toward achieving the government's goal of military modernization and building a strong navy capable of defending itself." His attendance at a second HHI-delivered vessel commissioning — following the BRP Miguel Malvar frigate ceremony in May 2025 — reflects the depth of trust the Philippine government has placed in Korean naval shipbuilding.
HHI's relationship with the Philippine Navy spans nearly a decade, beginning with its first participation in the Horizon Program in 2016. To date, the company has secured contracts for 12 vessels across frigate and OPV classes — making it the single largest naval export partner for the Philippine armed forces. This breadth of deliverables, from frigate-class warships to offshore patrol vessels, establishes a multi-platform reference that few non-Western shipbuilders can match.
As maritime security demands continue to rise across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the BRP Raja Lakandula commissioning serves as tangible proof of what Korean-built naval platforms deliver: validated design, on-time execution, and combat-ready outfitting at commissioning.
