Proposed Designs Offered for the Philippine Navy Frigate Program 2013 (2nd part of several posts)

Earlier we analyzed a possible Philippine Navy frigate configuration based on the information released by the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy (PN) to public media outfits, for public consumption. We also used basic information based on ongoing frigate programs in the region.

Cost-wise & based on the dimensions released by DND, it appears that the Philippine Navy is pushing for a light frigate design rather than a full-fledged frigate. In conjunction to its released “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix”, the ship is more likely to fulfill the role of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) which does not require huge power requirements and large spaces like those of air warfare frigate designs. The requirement only calls for a platform with decent anti-ship & anti-aircraft capabilities, and although there was no specific direction made towards ASW for this program, the current thrust of the PN is towards the build-up of its ASW capability. Thus, the choice made by the PN is good enough as an alternative for the 30-year old Maestrale-class ships earlier offered by the Italian government.

MaxDefense sources indicate that there are actually several companies and countries that submitted their bids:


1. After losing the chance on the Maestrale deal, Italy is back in the game this time with Orizzonte Sistemi Navali's MOSAIC family. No specific model was named though but OSN has several models in the MOSAIC family that will suit to PN requirement.

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali's MOSAIC 2400 design
(photo taken from Orizzonte Sistemi Navali website)

2. South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) derivative of the Incheon-class frigate. So far the only design being offered that was confirmed by DND to the public. 

There are 2 options being offered derived from the Incheon-class design

3. Another South Korean company, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) reportedly submitted an offer. Although it is not clear what design they offered, it appears that it is either a derivative of the DW-3000H frigate that won the frigate project in Thailand, or a derivative of their upcoming FFX-2 design. A speculation was also brought out that DSME might offer a derivative of their smaller DW-2000H frigate design should the PN budget not be enough for the DW-3000H & FFX-2 designs.

DSME's DW-3000H frigate design

4. Spain's Navantia was also named earlier by a DND source, submitting the Avante family. No word if Navantia submitted a design based on the large & expensive F100 family.

The Avante 2200 series from Navantia (Spain)

5. France' DCNS reportedly submitted an offer based on their Gowind family. The specific designed offered is said to be similar to the Royal Malaysian Navy's design although the submitted offer to the PN is less complicated and a bit smaller in size.

DCNS' Gowind design offered is smaller than Malaysia's SGPV

6. Surprisingly, Israel has submitted a bid using a derivative and highly modified version of the Israeli-designed Sa'ar 5-class corvette which was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding (now under Northrop Grumman). The reported version is considerably bigger and addresses a lot of issues they encountered with their own Sa'ar 5 ships. The offer is said to include a very considerable percentage of Israeli-made sensors and weapons systems to decrease the ship's overall price.

A modified and upsized Sa'ar 5 design was offered by Israel
(photo taken from naval-technology.com)

7. It is unclear if Israel made a joint bid with Korea for another Incheon-class derivative, with significant Israeli-made sensors and weapons systems, and based on the offer made by Hyundai for the Israeli frigate program. In such arrangement, MaxDefense believes that HHI will build the hull and Israel will provide the systems for integration.

An Incheon-class with Israeli weapons and sensor systems? Not bad...

8. No weapons bid will be complete without the Americans, and they are in full force in their offers. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) reportedly submitted the National Security Cutter derived PF 4921 frigate design and another derivative of the Israeli Sa'ar 5. Both are offered with mostly American-made weapons and mixed sensors systems which includes a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun, a VLS for ESSM, a Phalanx or SeaRAM CIWS system, a combination of six 25mm Mk. 38 Mod. 2 & 50-caliber gun mounts, two quad-pack Harpoon SSM, and a hull mounted plus towed array sonar system.

Huntington Ingalls' PF 4921 frigate design
(photo from M. Mazumdar)

9. Lockheed Martin offered the Multi-Mission Combat Ship family, which is where the USN's Freedom-class LCS was based. Although sources indicate that their offer is the most expensive and may not be suitable for the PN's budget.

Lockheed Martin's Multi-Mission Combat Ship family Reportedly being offered is the 118-meter design (middle)
(photo from Lockheed Martin website)

10. Another surprise was from Australia's Austal, using a highly modified, smaller and cheaper derivative of their Independence-class LCS. MaxDefense learned that the offer includes the possible construction of the ships in Austal's shipyard in Cebu, thus decreasing the cost further. 

The Independence-class LCS. Austal is offering a small cheaper derivative.
(photo taken from Wikimedia)

There were also reports that the British BAE Systems and a South African offer were made, but no further details were given. 

Reportedly the budget of Php 18 billion allocated for 2 ships is not yet final and may increase depending on the requirements, with the additional funds probably be coming from Fund 151 or discretion of the President himself. Also, there are talks that this would only be an initial order, and further orders may be taken depending on the financial capability of the Philippine government.

It's now up to the DND & Philippine Navy to decide on what they want as their future frigate, and if all goes well, the future of the PN seems bright.