BRP Antonio Luna (Photo courtesy of Naval Public Affairs Office)
MANILA – The country's second missile frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), will be formally commissioned on Friday, the Philippine Navy (PN) said.
In an advisory on Wednesday, PN public affairs office chief Commander Benjo Negranza said the commissioning ceremony would be held at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila at 8:30 a.m. with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as guest-of-honor and speaker.
Earlier, PN chief, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, said the missile frigates BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna would be deployed only to specific missions, as ordered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' top leadership.
"They will still conduct sovereignty patrols and show-the-flag missions covering the whole archipelago with a focus on external defense. They will participate in naval exercises here and abroad in order to hone the skills of her crew in naval warfighting," Bacordo said.
The frigates are capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic guided torpedoes, and an embarked anti-submarine helicopter.
The prospective BRP Antonio Luna left Ulsan, South Korea last February 5 and arrived in the Capones Island in Zambales on February 9.
The contract for the two ships was placed at PHP16 billion, with PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions. (PNA)
