Philippine Navy to start upgrade of its three Del Pilar-class frigates

According to information published by the Asia Pacific Defense Journal on January 22, 2021, the Philippine Navy expects to start the upgrade of its three Del Pilar-class frigates within the year in collaboration with the South Korean company Hanwha Systems.


According to information published by the Asia Pacific Defense Journal on January 22, 2021, the Philippine Navy expects to start the upgrade of its three Del Pilar-class frigates within the year in collaboration with the South Korean company Hanwha Systems.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Del Pilar-class frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) of Philippine Navy. (Picture source Twitter Max Montero)


In August 2019, South Korean company Hanwha Systems and the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) signed a contract to upgrade the Del Pilar-class Frigate. The upgrade of the ships will include Naval Shield Integrated Combat Management Systems (CMS) from Hanwha Systems, and a new hull-mounted sonar and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system.

The Del Pilar-class frigates were previously Hamilton-class high endurance cutters of the US Coast Guard. Early in 2011, the Philippine Navy announced the acquisition of an ex-US Coast Guard Hamilton-class high-endurance cutter under the "Ocean-going Escort Vessel" project through the US Excess Defense Article program. The ship acquired was the former USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715), renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), she was commissioned by the Philippine Navy on 14 December 2011.

The second Hamilton-class cutter, the USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716), was delivered to the Philippine Navy on May 2012 and named BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16). The third cutter USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) has been transferred to the Philippine Navy in November 2015 under the name of BRP Gregorio del Pilar and commissioned in July 2016.

The Hamilton-class is a cutter that was in service with U.S. Coast Guard and now replaced by the Legend-class cutter. The ship was designed to perform anti-submarine warfare, with the capability to find, track and destroy enemy submarines.

The Hamilton-class cutter is powered by a Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system including two Fairbanks-Morse 38TD8-1/8-12 12-cylinder diesel engines generating 7,000 hp (5,200 kW) and two Pratt & Whittney FT4A-6 gas turbines producing 36,000 hp (27,000 kW). She can reach a top speed of 29 knots (54 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 14,000 nautical miles (26,000 km). She has an endurance of 45 days with a crew of 167 people.

The Hamilton-class cutter is armed with one OTO Melara Mark 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun, two 25 mm Mk38 automatic cannons, one MK 15 Block 1 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), and 6 12.7mm caliber machine guns. The ship has a flight deck and a hangar to accommodate one helicopter.