HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has launched the Philippine Navy’s second Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21), at its Ulsan shipyard on November 20, 2025.
On December 1, 2025, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul announced that South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries launched the Philippine Navy’s second Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel, BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21), at its Ulsan shipyard on November 20, 2025. The vessel is part of a six-ship program scheduled for delivery through 2028, designed to expand Manila’s patrol coverage, constabulary capacity, and presence across its maritime zones.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior Philippine and Korean officials, including Philippine Ambassador-designate Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Navy Vice Commander MGen Edwin E. Amadar, AFP Vice Chief of Staff LtGen Jimmy D. Larida, and HD Hyundai executives. Vice Commander Amadar highlighted the vessel’s role in modernizing the Philippine Navy and strengthening national and regional security through cooperation with partners such as South Korea.
The BRP Rajah Lakandula is the second ship in a $573 million contract signed in June 2022, with deliveries planned between 2025 and 2028. The vessels are “fitted for but not with” additional weapons like point-defense missiles or CIWS. The remaining ships will be named BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-22), BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-23), BRP Datu Marikudo (PS-24), and BRP Datu Sikatuna (PS-25), continuing the tradition of honoring historical leaders. The name Rajah Lakandula was previously carried by a former U.S. Navy destroyer escort that later served as a Philippine Navy frigate until decommissioning in 1988.
The Rajah Sulayman-class is designed for long-range, sustained maritime patrols, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries protection, search and rescue, and disaster relief, with an endurance of up to 30 days. The six vessels will expand the Offshore Patrol Force from 11 to 17 ships, gradually replacing older World War II-era and other legacy vessels.
The class is based on HD Hyundai’s HDP-2200+ design, displacing 2,400–2,450 tonnes, with a length of 94.4 meters, beam of 14.3 meters, and draft of 3.7 meters. Propulsion is a CODAD arrangement with two MTU-STX diesels driving Kongsberg Kamewa 86 A/5 controllable-pitch propellers, allowing a maximum speed of 22 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles. The ships feature a stern ramp for a 9.5-meter RHIB and two additional 7.2-meter RHIBs in side bays.
Armament includes a Leonardo OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun, two Aselsan SMASH 30 mm remote weapon systems, and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. The Hanwha combat management system integrates Leonardo SPS-732 radar, Safran PASEO XLR EO system, and Hensoldt UK SharpEye Mk.11 navigation radar. Survivability features include radar ESM and Terma C-Guard DL-6T decoy launchers. A flight deck and hangar support a 10-tonne naval helicopter and UAVs, with a mission bay for containerized payloads like towed sonar.
Three ships will receive modular TRAPS (Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar) systems from GeoSpectrum Technologies, providing initial anti-submarine capabilities. This sonar complements hull-mounted sensors and will extend detection capabilities. The first ship, BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), is expected in early 2026, with Rajah Lakandula and the remaining four vessels delivered progressively until 2028.
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