The Philippine Navy’s new guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) has joined Indian Navy guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay (D-55) and guided-missile corvette INS Kora (P-61) in a maritime exercise at the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on 23 August 2021. The naval ships performed several operational maneuvers off the northwestern coast of Palawan. The joint evolutions conducted during the exercise included several operational manoeuvers and the participating ships of both navies were satisfied with the consolidation of interoperability achieved through this operational interaction at sea.
Since 1998, regular visits by Indian navy vessels to the Philippines have highlighted the two maritime nation-states’ defense cooperation. The Indian Navy ships were deployed to improve maritime security coordination with partner nations such as the Philippines which India has had a long-standing relationship for 72 years. The exercise was conducted in a contactless manner in compliance with the prevailing pandemic guidelines and health and safety protocols were strictly observed. After the exercise, the Indian naval ships are scheduled to call at Manila Port for replenishment.
INS Ranvijay is a Rajput-class destroyer in active service with the Indian Navy. Ranvijay was commissioned on 15 Jan 1988. The Rajput-class guided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy are modified versions of Soviet Kashin-class destroyers. The Rajput class inherited their anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare roles for aircraft carrier task-force defense against submarines, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles from the Kashin class. INS Kora is the lead ship of the Kora-Class of Corvettes in active service with the Indian Navy. She is equipped with 3M-24 Anti-Ship Missiles, with two Strela-2M Anti-Air Missiles as defensive weapons.
BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) is the second ship of the Jose Rizal-class of guided missile frigates in service with the Philippine Navy.The BRP Antonio Luna was designed and built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea and is a derivative of the Incheon-class frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy. She is able to conduct multi-role operations such anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and limited anti-air warfare (AAW). She is one of the service’s primary warship until the introduction of new and more powerful contemporaries. Changes were made on the base design by making use of features found on newer frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy.
