THE BRP Miguel Malvar, the Philippine Navy’s newest and most advanced warship, recently docked at Macabalan port for a two-day visit and public viewing.
The ship, classified as a guided-missile frigate, arrived with a noticeable “new-car smell” and pristine interior.
Despite its size — dwarfed by a nearby cargo ship with a length of 118 meters — the BRP Malvar is a formidable vessel.
It is the first Philippine Navy ship to have a 16-cell vertical launching system (VLS) for its missiles. Previous Jose Rizal-class (JRP) ships only had an eight-cell VLS, which has yet to be installed.
The BRP Malvar is equipped with a Close-In Weapons System, two triple-tube torpedo launchers, and a hangar and flight deck for an anti-submarine helicopter.
The ship’s crew, who trained for months in Korea, were eager to show off the vessel. Some crew members previously served on the BRP Jose Rizal.
A striking feature of the new frigate is its advanced computerized systems for propulsion, power generation, and steering.
The combat system is also computerized, a significant upgrade from the analog systems of the Philippine Navy's World War II-era ships.
The ship also has 50-caliber machine guns on each side as a last resort.
Another ship of the same class, the BRP Diego Silang, recently arrived in the country, bringing the navy’s number of these capable warships to two.
Plans for an additional four upgraded “Malvar 2.0” ships are in the works.
Standing on the ship’s bow, visitors expressed a sense of pride in the country’s enhanced defense capabilities.
Despite concerns about facing larger navies, the presence of these new vessels symbolizes the nation’s commitment to modernizing its defense force.
