Hyundai to build 2 more PH warships

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday inked a P28-billion deal for the Navy’s acquisition of two brand-new corvettes capable of antiship, antisubmarine, and antiaircraft warfare.

Lorenzana virtually signed the contract with representatives of South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, the same company that built the Navy’s most modern ships: the frigates BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna.

Lorenzana told reporters that he expects to also ink deals for the acquisition of 32 Black Hawk helicopters and six offshore patrol vehicles next month as part of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

“I am very pleased that we were able to meet our target to have the contract for the Philippine Navy Corvette Lot 1 Acquisition Project signed before the year ends despite delays due to the pandemic,” he said. INQ