ULSAN, South Korea — HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched the future BRP Rajah Humabon, the third of six Rajah Sulayman-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) ordered for the Philippine Navy (PN), at its primary shipyard in Ulsan.
The launching ceremony was attended by the Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Q Ezpeleta, alongside an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) delegation led by Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rommel P Roldan.Procured under a June 2022 contract based on HHI’s HDP-2200+ multi-role patrol vessel export design, the ~2,400-ton platform is configured to strengthen maritime domain awareness (MDA), Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, and multi-mission territorial defense in contested West Philippine Sea waters. BRP Rajah Humabon follows lead ships BRP Rajah Sulayman and BRP Rajah Lakandula, which entered active fleet service earlier in 2026. The final three hulls—future BRP Sultan Kudarat, BRP Datu Marikudo, and BRP Datu Sikatuna—are slated for phased delivery through 2028.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: RAJAH SULAYMAN-CLASS (HDP-2200+) OPV 
* Prime Contractor & Shipyard: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (Ulsan, South Korea)
* Contract Scope: 6-ship offshore patrol vessel procurement under Horizon 2/3 AFP Modernization Program
* Hull Dimensions & Displacement:
* Full Load Displacement: ~2,400 to 2,450 metric tons
* Length Overall (LOA): 94.4 m (310 ft)
* Beam & Draft: 14.3 m beam | 3.7 m operational draft
* Propulsion & Performance Architecture:
* Machinery: CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) configuration
* Main Engines: 2 x Hyundai HiMSEN 18H25/33V V-18 diesel engines driving 2 x Kongsberg Kamewa controllable-pitch propellers
* Speed & Endurance: Maximum speed 22 knots | Cruising speed 15 knots | Operating range up to 5,500 nautical miles
* Sensor, C4I & Navigation Suite:
* Combat Management System: Hanwha CMS with integrated tactical data link architecture
* Radar Suite: Leonardo SPS-732 X-Band 2D air/surface search radar + Hensoldt UK SharpEye Mk 11 navigation radar
* Optronics & Bridge: Safran PASEO XLR extra-long-range optronic sensor suite + Anschütz Synapsis NX integrated navigation bridge system
* Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Provisions: Stern mission bay accommodating containerized module assets and GeoSpectrum Technologies towed array sonar
* Kinetic Ordnance & Countermeasure Payload:
* Primary Armament: 1 x 76 mm Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun
* Secondary Armament: 2 x 30 mm ASELSAN SMASH Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) + 2 x 12.7 mm heavy machine guns
* Non-Lethal / Countermeasures: 2 x Sitep Italia MASS CS-524 acoustic hailer & laser dazzlers + 2 x Terma C-Guard 6-tube 130 mm decoy launchers
* Aviation & Offboard Assets:
* Flight Deck & Hangar: Accommodates 1 x 10-ton class naval utility helicopter (e.g., AW159 Wildcat) and vertical launch Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
* RHIB Launch & Recovery: Starboard boat bay (7.3 m RHIB) + stern ramp launch/recovery system (9.5 m RHIB)
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT:
The launch of the future BRP Rajah Humabon marks a major milestone in the Philippine Navy’s transition from a legacy coastal force into a capable blue-water surface fleet. By procuring six HDP-2200+ derived Rajah Sulayman-class OPVs, Manila is establishing a permanent, cost-effective surface patrol umbrella across its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to counter gray-zone maritime incursions and assert sovereignty in contested littoral zones.
Integrating 76 mm primary firepower, ASELSAN SMASH RWS, non-lethal dazzlers, and modular provisions for towed-array sonars allows these 2,400-ton vessels to execute dual roles: handling daily maritime law enforcement while retaining scalable combat capabilities for wartime scenarios. Furthermore, relying on HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ rapid modular construction pipeline ensures that the Philippine Navy receives all six modern OPVs by 2028, significantly boosting fleet mass alongside its South Korean-built frigates and corvettes.
