The Philippine Navy's Frigate Acquisition Project Update

Steel cutting for 2 frigates starts April 30

Image by Hyundai Heavy Industries

 The steel cutting for the two missile-armed frigates, which is under contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), is expected to start on April 30.

"The next significant milestone will now be the ceremonial steel cutting, which will likely be held on April 30 at the HHI Complex in Ulsan, South Korea, to be attended by a delegation from DND/PN (Department of National Defense/Philippine Navy) to mark this important milestone," Navy spokesperson, Capt. Lued Lincuna, said Thursday.

Steel cutting signals the official start of a vessel’s construction.

Hyundai selects SMASH 30 mm naval gun system for Philippine Navy frigates [old news]

Hyundai selects Turkish 30 mm naval gun system for Philippine Navy frigates

The Philippine Navy’s (PN’s) new frigates will be equipped with the SMASH 30 mm remote controlled stabilized naval gun system from Turkish defence systems provider, Aselsan, an official from the company confirmed with Jane’s on 20 November.

A mock-up of Aselsan's SMASH 30 mm remote controlled naval gun system on display at LIMA 2017 in Langkawi. (IHS Markit/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Each frigate will be equipped with one SMASH 30 mm system as a secondary weapon, and the system will be fully integrated with the platform’s combat management system (CMS), said the official. Jane’s understands that the weapon will be situated in the platform’s stern section, facing its flight deck.


South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) won a contract in 2016 to supply the PN with two 2,600-tonne frigates that derive its design from the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN’s) Incheon (FFX-I) class. Besides the 30 mm gun system, the warship is also expected to be equipped with an eight-cell vertical launching system (VLS) installed at the forward section, and a 76 mm naval gun.

According to specifications provided by Aselsan, the SMASH system is fitted with a 30 mm Mk 44 Bushmaster-II cannon that can fire up to 200 rounds/minute, and can be operated either via an operator console or in automatic tracking mode.

The system can be equipped with an electro-optic sight package containing a thermal camera, a video camera, and laser range finder, and also operate in surveillance mode to improve the platform’s situational awareness. The turret can be fed via two separate ammunition stowage lines.

Article source: Janes.com

Philippine Navy allots P25M for consultant

The Navy will spend P25-million for the services of a consultant for its multi-billion ship acquisition project.
 
Commodore Ronald Mercado of the Navy technical working group said the consultant would complement their expertise on the ships' design and capabilities.

"The consultant will provide us the technical expertise and the knowledge," Mercado told reporters in an interview Monday.

The Defense department has allowed the Navy to tap a consultant for the project, which seeks to improve the country's territorial defense capabilities.

The goverment is spending P18 billion to buy two Navy frigates as part of the military's upgrade efforts.

The bidding process for the project started late last year.

The consultant for the project will be chosen through negotiations. Mercado said they are looking for a consultant in the region with proven expertise and track record.

"We need to have it (consultant) within next month," he said.

The budget for the consultant will be charged from the Armed Forces Modernization Fund.
Earlier, THE STAR reported that four companies have been declared eligible to proceed to the next phase of the bidding for the P18-billion project.

The eligible bidders are Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) of Spain and South Korean firms STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Heavy Industries, Inc.

The four firms passed the first stage of the bidding, which involved the inspection of company eligibility documents.

Three other companies joined the bidding but the Defense department declared their documents to be deficient. The three disqualified firms are now asking the agency to reconsider its decision and to declare them as eligible bidders.

The three bidders that filed motions for reconsideration were Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. of India, STX France SA and Thyssenkrupp Marine System.

The Navy will nevertheless review the offers of the four eligible fims while the Defense department deliberates on the appeal of the disqualified bidders.

Mercado said they would conduct workshops in Cavite next month to assess the technical features of the ships being offered. The Navy technical working group will allot five days to each bid submitted.

Mercado said they would allot another three weeks for assessments in the event that the Defense department reverses its decision on the three disqualified firms. 

The second phase of the bidding will involve the opening of financial documents to determine who among the bidders is offering the lowest price.

Article Source: The Philippine Star

South Korean defense manufacturer signifies interest to provide DND's frigate requirements

MANILA, March 2 (PNA) -- A South Korean defense manufacturer is now talking with the Department of National Defense (DND) regarding its requirements for two brand new frigates.

A DND observer said that the company is offering the Philippines varieties of the "Incheon" class frigates.

"Some initial talks are now being held and hopefully, the company will get a chance to bid for our frigate requirements," he stressed.

He also pointed out that talks with the South Korean defense manufacturer came about when the DND decided to not go ahead with the planned purchase of the Italian "Maestrale" frigates due to questions of cost and hull aging.

The "Incheon" are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy with its lead ship launched on April 29, 2011.

The "Incheon" class frigates will replace the aging fleet of "Pohang" class corvettes and "Ulsan" class frigates, and take over multi-role operations such as coast patrol, anti-submarine warfare and transport support.

Later batches are planned to be specialized on anti-air and anti-submarine warfare.

"Incheon" class frigates are armed with the 127mm/L62 Mk. 45 Mod 4 naval gun.

Point-defense armaments include a single 20 mm Phalanx CIWS and a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1 21-round launcher.

Anti-Submarine Warfare armaments consists of K745 LW Cheong Sahng-uh (Blue Shark) torpedoes.

Its anti-ship capability is provided by 16 SSM-700K Hae Sung (Sea Star) long-range anti-ship missile, each with performance similar to the US Harpoon while land-attack capability is provided by the recently-developed Hyunmoo IIIC (Guardian of the Northern Sky) cruise missile, which is similar to the US Tomahawk.

It has a length of 374 feet, speed of 30 knots, capable of carrying a naval helicopter and a complement of 140 officers and men.

"Incheon" frigates weigh around 3,000 tons and has cruising range of 5,000 miles. 

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Priam F. Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency | March 2, 2013 | Article Link