Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151) tested its main guns and other batteries in a series of live firing events during the at-sea phase of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 12 – 16. During the Gunnery Exercise (GUNNEX), BRP Antonio Luna tested the accuracy of its main battery OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun, 30 mmm Aselsan SMASH, and .50-caliber machine gun aiming at targets deployed by Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) while underway.
Meanwhile, during the Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) Rodeo exercise, the 76 mm Super Rapid Gun was again tested by targeting 2D virtual land information. The BRP Antonio Luna and other participants conducted a practice run for gunfire corrections before proceeding with the record firing. RIMPAC 2022 helps to gauge and validate the Philippine Navy’s capacity to sustain operations overseas and provides resources and an environment that permits international participants to achieve their individual and collective training objectives.
BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) is the second ship of the Jose Rizal-class of guided missile frigates in service with the Philippine 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 warships until the introduction of new and more powerful contemporaries. 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.
Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft, more than 30 unmanned systems and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
