Hanwha Wins Upgrading Navy’s Del Pilar-Class Ships

01 September 2019

BRP Gregorio del Pilar (photo : GMA Network)

Hanwha Systems wins contract to upgrade Philippine naval vessels

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Systems Co., a major South Korean defense firm, has signed a deal with the Philippines to export a ship combat system, an arms procurement agency official said Friday.

Under the 30 billion-won (US$24.82 million) contract signed Tuesday, Hanwha will supply the ship combat system to the Philippine Navy for its project to upgrade three 3,000-ton frigates, according to the official of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

By integrating equipment at naval vessels, the ship combat system generates and shares information on tactical situations.

Under the contract, Hanwha will also export electronic warfare equipment and sonar systems for frigate ships, he added.

Meanwhile, DAPA held a seminar in Manila on Wednesday, involving dozens of government officials from South Korea and the Philippines, as well as some 13 Korean defense companies.

"The event served as a venue for the two sides to discuss ways to further boost their defense industry ties and for the Korean companies to promote their weapons systems," DAPA said in a release. (Yonhap)

Hanwha to incorporate anti-submarine capabilities on Philippine Navy’s Del Pilar-class vessels

South Korean defence company Hanwha Systems will incorporate a hull-mounted sonar (HMS) system on each of the Philippine Navy's Del Pilar (Hamilton and Hero) class as part of a contract to upgrade the ships.

The PHP1.5 billion (USD28 million) contract, which was signed in late August, also includes works to install a new integrated combat management system (CMS) and radar electronic support measures (ESM) across all three ships in the class.

The Philippine Navy's Del Pilar-class frigates were formerly in service with the US Coast Guard and transferred to the Philippines as part of an assistance package. They were recommissioned into the Philippine Navy's offshore combat force between 2011 and 2016. (Jane's)