Philippine Navy Receives First Rajah Sulayman Patrol Boat From S. Korea
The Philippine Navy has accepted the lead Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) from South Korea as part of a 2022 contract.
The BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) is the first of six next-generation boats being assembled by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to replace Manila’s aging OPV fleet, boosting anti-piracy, border security, and monitoring across the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Handover of the ship was conducted in Zambales, where it is set to complete acceptance and pre-commissioning tests before formal adoption into the force in the first quarter of 2026.
Work for the remaining Sulayman vessels is now in various stages of development, with deliveries scheduled through 2028.
The Rajah Sulayman OPV
Manila’s Rajah Sulayman system measures 94 meters (308 feet) long and can carry up to 70 personnel along with three rigid-hull patrol boats and a helicopter.
The boat is fitted with two MTU-STX diesel engines, enabling a top speed of 22 knots (41 kilometers/25 miles per hour), a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 kilometers/6,329 miles), and straight deployment for up to 30 days.
For navigation and situational awareness, the platform is built with multiple sensors, identification friend or foe technology, electronic warfare countermeasures, and a combat management system.
The Rajah Sulayman class carries a 76-millimeter automatic cannon, 30-millimeter secondary guns, and 12.7-millimeter support machine guns, allowing sustained lethality against maritime threats.
Upon commissioning, the Rajah Sulayman OPV fleet is expected to complement the Rizal-class frigates and Malvar-class corvettes, both also developed in partnership with the South Korean government and Hyundai.
