Jamaine Punzalan

The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), during its arrival ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 08, 2025. Philippine Navy

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MV MIGUEL MALVAR

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177926121539120250408-mv-miguel-malvar-PN3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), during its arrival ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 08, 2025. Philippine Navy</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — As the Philippine Navy marks its 128th anniversary, military officials on Wednesday said ongoing modernization efforts were transforming the country’s maritime force into one that is more capable, mission-ready, and increasingly at par with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.</p><p>Under the theme “Modern and Ready, Strong and Steady, Credible in Mission, Always Mission-Ready,” Navy officials noted improvements ranging from longer patrol operations and new warships to missile systems and upgraded capabilities in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“To us, these are more than just words. They are an operational mandate—from the surface of our territorial waters to the depths of our maritime domains—the Fleet remains a force that is increasingly sophisticated, relentlessly prepared, and unwavering in the face of adversity,” Philippine Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><p>Orbe believes the country’s modernization program has narrowed capability gaps with neighboring states.</p><p>When asked whether the Philippines could already be considered a “middle power” in Southeast Asia in terms of military capability, Orbe said the country now possesses assets comparable to those of regional partners.</p><p>“I would say so. We are at par with our Southeast Asian neighbors,” he said. “Right now, we have embarked on this modernization program that we have now. If you notice, most capabilities that our neighbors have are also the same with what we have now.”</p><p>“In fact, we have newer ships than some of our neighbors during international exercises,” he continued.</p><p>Orbe added that foreign counterparts had expressed admiration for the country’s modernization efforts.</p><p>“We were informed by our friends from the region that they look up to us because they admire this modernization program of ours,” he noted.</p><p>The Philippine Fleet currently operates more than 80 platforms, including smaller gunboats. Among its major assets are two Jose Rizal-class frigates and two Miguel Malvar-class corvettes.</p><p>The Navy is also expecting six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), with two already in the inventory and four more expected until 2028.</p><p>“This is a big boost to the Philippine Fleet’s ability to support the Philippine Navy’s mission to put more platforms at sea at any one time,” Orbe said. “This is a big leap, a big boost to our capability.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LONGER PRESENCE IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>According to Orbe, one of the biggest effects of the modernization program is the Navy’s ability to maintain a longer presence in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>He explained that older vessels could only stay at sea for one to two weeks before requiring refueling and replenishment. Newer naval assets have significantly increased operational endurance.</p><p>“The thing that we can readily see with this modernization program is that we have a longer presence in our maritime areas,” Orbe noted.</p><p>“Before, our ships are limited in endurance. A week, at the most two weeks, perhaps. But now, with the modern platforms that we have, we can stay 20 [days], even more than a month at sea without the need for refueling or reprovisioning,” he added. “What that translates into is that we have more presence in our maritime areas compared to before.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/dnd-afp-reject-china-s-claims-assert-sovereignty-over-west-philippine-sea-features-1138">DND, AFP reject China’s claims, assert sovereignty over West Philippine Sea features </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/pcg-challenges-chinese-research-vessel-off-pag-asa-island-1929">PCG challenges Chinese research vessel off Pag-asa Island </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MISSILE SYSTEMS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) also highlighted progress in coastal defense and missile capability development.</p><p>PMC Coastal Defense Regiment Commander Colonel Joel Lazo said recent exercises under the annual Balikatan drills focused heavily on maritime strike operations and coastal defense.</p><p>“The big thing that we’ve learned from the Americans, especially in the exercises up north, is how effective and lethal yung missile systems ng ating partner nation na ginamit during the maritime strike exercise,” Lazo said.</p><p>The official added that the PMC is moving closer toward operationalizing its missile systems, noting that the deployment of the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/ph-to-procure-more-brahmos-missiles-from-india-marcos-0935">BrahMos missile system, </a>acquired under Horizon 2 of the AFP modernization program, remains ongoing.</p><p>“It started under Horizon 2, and may mga dumating na tayong equipment, pati na yung kanyang facilities. It’s still continuous… Meron pang mga parating under Horizon 3,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/5/us-tomahawk-missile-fired-from-ph-for-the-first-time-spox-1329">US Typhon missile system fired in PH for first time, AFP confirms</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>AIR AND DRONE CAPABILITIES  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Navy also reported progress in anti-submarine and drone warfare capabilities.</p><p>Captain Ariel Joseph Coloma of the Naval Air Warfare Force (NAWF) confirmed that the Navy’s AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters are now operational, and have already participated in missions and exercises.</p><p>“Regarding the operationalization of the AW159, yes, it’s already operationalized, and it has been deployed several times already together with our frigates and corvettes,” Coloma said.</p><p>“The AW159 Wildcat helicopters are full ASW-capable helicopters, so they can detect, identify, and prosecute subsurface targets,” he said. </p><p>The Navy is expecting six more AW159 Wildcat helicopters over the next four to five years.</p><p>On unmanned systems, Coloma said the Navy has already established its own drone capability and currently deploys unmanned aerial systems in strategic locations.</p><p>“Our drone capability, of course, started with the help of our allied countries and right now, we have fully developed our units and squadron that would cater to the sustainment and operations of our unmanned aerial system capabilities,” the official said.</p><p>“But, of course, we still welcome any help from other allied forces in terms of improving and enhancing our drone capabilities,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SPECIAL WARFARE FORCES </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, the Naval Special Warfare Force (NSWF) continues to modernize in support of the Navy’s broader mission.</p><p>“We do upgrade our equipment and capabilities,” NSWF Naval Special Warfare Training Center Superintendent Captain Tirso Binasoy told reporters.</p><p>According to Binasoy, improvements include drone warfare and asymmetric warfare capabilities, although he declined to discuss operational details.</p><p>“What I can say is that your NAVSPECWAR is also modernizing in support to our Philippine Navy’s mission,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RlGJCXDo2OI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-cg1QkrqJSA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>As the Philippine Navy marks its 128th anniversary, military officials on Wednesday said ongoing modernization efforts were transforming the country’s maritime force into one that is more capable, mission-ready, and increasingly at par with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.</p>

As the Philippine Navy marks its 128th anniversary, military officials on Wednesday said ongoing modernization efforts were transforming the country’s maritime force into one that is more capable, mission-ready, and increasingly at par with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

Navy says Philippines now at par with neighbors amid modernization push

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Navy says Philippines now at par with neighbors amid modernization push

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2026 03:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Navy

modernization

West Philippine Sea

coastal defense

missile capabilities

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