Philippine Navy tests new frigate in West Philippine Sea drills with US forces

SUBIC NAVAL OPERATING BASE, ZAMBALES — Philippine and American forces staged drills for the seventh Maritime Cooperation Activity off Zambales on Wednesday, June 4, focusing on coordination maneuvers and maritime awareness.

The drills, conducted amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea, featured a communications check, fire-support rehearsal, maritime domain reporting and a divisional tactical maneuver. The activities all aimed at refining joint operations at sea. 

The exercise involved Philippine Navy assets BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and an AW-109 helicopter.

Taking part on the U.S. side were a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and a shore team from the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment.

Although they worked near each other, the two navies did not conduct a formal at-sea meeting. The Miguel Malvar stayed at sea for the exercise.

Defensive operations

Capt. Paul Michael Hechanova, commander of the BRP Miguel Malvar, said the exercise allowed the Navy to test its abilities and improve cooperation with the U.S.

The fire-support rehearsal focused on defense. Crews worked through the ship’s combat system; no live rounds were fired.

“It’s more defensive because we are protecting our vital interests, our vital installations, [and] of course, we are asserting our sovereign rights in our Exclusive Economic Zone,” Hechanova said.

New frigate in action

This was the first operational mission for the new BRP Miguel Malvar, the Philippine Navy’s latest guided missile frigate. Launched in South Korea in June 2024 and delivered to the Philippine Navy in April, it replaces the aging World War II-era vessel retired in 2021.

The ship is equipped for modern threats—anti-surface, anti-air, anti-submarine and electronic warfare—and boasts a 76-mm gun (eight nautical miles) and surface-to-surface missiles (97 nautical miles).

Hechanova said its advanced radar and optics put it at the center of the Navy’s modernization plans.

A watchful eye. During the exercises, at around 2 p.m., a Chinese navy ship was spotted eight to 10 nautical miles from the Miguel Malvar.

"But there wasn't any unusual activity," Hechanova said in Filipino. "So we [kept] on tracking them, monitoring them."

The Chinese vessel’s helicopter did not approach their group. He said such sightings are common in the area and are reported to higher authorities.