The Philippines Department of National Defense has awarded a contract to MBDA France to supply surface-to-air missiles for two 2,600t frigates currently under construction.

MBDA France secured the contract after the department accepted its bid to supply the surface-to-air missiles for PHP639.26m (€10.69m).

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In a notice, Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was quoted by the Philippine News Agency as saying: “This is to inform you that the proposal of MBDA France for the Acquisition of Frigate Lot 2 (Missiles and Munition), Lot 2B Surface-to-Air Missile Project of the Philippine Navy, with a corresponding contract price in the amount of €10.69m is hereby accepted.”

Earlier, the Department of National Defense Bids and Awards Committee 1 passed a resolution that declared MBDA France’s proposal as the ‘Single Calculated and Response Quotation for the Acquisition of Frigate Lot 2 (Missiles and Munition), Lot 2B Surface-to-Air Missile Project and Recommending the Issuance of a Notice of Award in its favour’.

In October 2016, South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a PHP16bn ($305.73m) contract to build two missile-armed frigates for the Philippine Navy (PN). The contract also includes PHP2bn ($38.22m) for the weapon systems and munition.

“Acquisition of the 107m-long vessels is expected to help the country secure its territorial waters.”

According to PN flag-officer-in-command vice-admiral Robert Empedrad, the construction of the first missile-armed frigates is continuing as planned.

Empedrad stated that the first frigate is expected to be delivered by March next year.

Delivery of the second warship is anticipated in 2021.

HHI performed the keel-laying for the first-missile-armed frigate in October last year in Ulsan, South Korea.

The second frigate’s keel will be laid during the first quarter of this year. Acquisition of the 107m-long vessels is expected to help the country secure its territorial waters.

HHI is building the vessels as a smaller and light combatant version of the Incheon-class multi-purpose frigate. The new frigates will offer enhanced survivability and manoeuvring capability.