Pohang-class corvettes of the ROKN. Photo c/o Wikipedia. |
The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy (PN) confirmed that negotiations are ongoing for the transfer of two (2) additional retired Pohang-class corvettes from South Korea.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed this on 20 August 2019, adding that the South Korean government has also shown willingness to help the PN improve its capabilities, including providing excess defense articles and supplying new naval equipment.
The PN currently has one Pohang-class corvette it received recently, the BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39), which is the former ROKS Chungju.
PN chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad also confirmed on the same day that he also discussed with his South Korean counterparts on the possibility of acquring more Pohang-class corvettes on top of the two already under negotiations, in which he said the idea was well received.
South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is building two light frigates for the PN, and is being considered by the PN to build two new corvettes.
Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines mentioned that the new corvettes could be a follow-on order of the frigates rather than being a new or derivative design.
[1] GMA News
[2] Philippine Daily Inquirer
[3] MaxDefense Philippines
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