#brpmiguelmalvar

Just some of the latest Pictures of the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), the Lead Ship of the new Malvar class Guided Missile Frigates. It is the newest, most advanced and most capable Ship of the Philippine Navy (PN) as of now.

It is the first Ship of the PN to be equipped with Vertical Launch System (VLS) Cells for some of its Missiles, and first brand new Ship to be armed with a Gun-based Close In Weapons (CIWS) System.

The Ship has been commissioned into Service recently, but has already participated in a number of Naval Exercises. The Contract for the acquisition of the two Malvar-class Vessels was signed back in December of 2021 under the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

SOURCES:

Armed Forces of the Philippines Facebook Page Post, 06/05/25 – 1404H {Archived Link}

The BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), the Lead Ship of the Miguel Malvar class Guided Missile Frigates of the Philippine Navy (PN) was finally commissioned into Service recently at the Naval Operating Base (NOB) in Subic, Zambales.

The Event also coincided with the 127th Anniversary Celebration of the PN. The Ship is named after the last Filipino General to surrender to the United States (US) Forces during the Philippine-American War which ran from 1899 to 1902.

You can access the original Pictures here on the Facebook Page Post of the PN: https://web.facebook.com/PhilippineNavy/posts/pfbid02Wh9r93c1q7FC93xPPkVSi3wxQVHex79FKeKLrfD7f3q3QVNNtwacj7cLQYuurPnXl

MY THOUGHTS: And just like that, discreetly or without any explanation at all on the new “FFG” Designation, or why they changed the Type of Vessel of the BRP Malvar, for as far as I can remember reading, the PN called it a “Frigate” on an official Publication of theirs for the first time.

With that, despite the lack of explanation at all, I guess we can now also calling the Ship as a “Frigate” also. Remember that during its entire Development, Planning and Procurement, they had always designated it as a “Corvette” despite the Fact that it is larger than the Jose Rizal class Frigates.

Since they offered no Explanation at all, my Guess is that the PN was just desperate to come up with a new class of Ships to be their Flagship. The Jose Rizal class was plagued with Controversies during its Development, including one where the PN’s very own Flag Officer in Command (FOIC) ended up being dismissed for it.

So that may be one Reason why they didn’t want it to be their Flagship. Which is such a Shame, because the Jose Rizal Ships ended up being such fine Vessels, and whether the PN likes it or not, they are the first Guided Missile Frigates of theirs.

By renaming the Miguel Malvar class as “Corvettes” I think ensured that a new class of Ships will be made, and it did, and it also made it so distinct that it would be difficult to merge or morph the Project, or treat it as an improved class or Variant of the Jose Rizal Ships. At any rate, all is well that ends well, I guess.

The former BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) Vessel of the Philippine Navy (PN) which was supposed to be used as the Target Vessel for the Maritime Strike (MARSTRIKE) Event of the ongoing Balikatan 40-2025 Exercise sank 55 km off the Coast of San Antonio in Zambales before the Event could even start.

The Vessel reportedly just started to take in Water while traveling to the Site, leading to its sinking. No Personnel were injured in the sinking.

You can access the Report here on the Facebook Page of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): https://web.facebook.com/armedforcesofthephilippines/posts/pfbid02UQ1xN49dX1EFvn39H6GpETvTYrb4E6pzrrJdJYLWkgm6a77ESHKDht2kdgDfPXirl

MY THOUGHTS: Well that was quite a letdown, most if not all of the build up in the Press, and all the Effort and Resources poured into the Sinking Event ended up almost for nothing. I guess one could say that the Ship itself just didn’t want to go out as a Target Practice Vessel.

The “Conspiracy Theorist” in me though can’t help but think if the United States (US) or a Pinoy Dog of theirs just changed their Mind about using that Ship as a Target Vessel at the last minute, causing the Organizers to just sink it in a more dignified Way.

After all, it did have a very distinguished and very long Career over several Navies, and more importantly, it was a US MADE SHIP. Remember that last Year of 2024, they used a Chinese-made Ship, the late BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81) as Target Vessel and sank it.

I was about to say that good that they used a US-made Ship to sink this Time around, but obviously that didn’t happen now after it just reportedly sank on its own before it could be hit with Weapons. Anyway, we will probably never know if that really was the Case. But still, Rest in Peace (RIP) to PS-19 …

The decommissioned and former BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) Vessel of the Philippine Navy (PN) will be used a Target Vessel and sunk during the "Maritime Strike (MARSTRIKE)" Event of a Military Exercise in early next Month of May, 2025.

Before its decommissioning, the Vessel served for four and a half Decades with the PN, from 1976 to 2021. Before that, the Vessel served with the Republic of Vietnam or South Vietnam as the Ngoc Hoi (HQ-12) starting in 1966, but managed to escape to the Philippines in 1976 before the fall of that Country.

The Vessel started its long Service Life during World War Two (WW2) in 1944 as PCE(R)-852 with the United States Navy (USN), and later added the name USS Brattleboro. As we can see the Vessel has had a very long Career, and was often described by the PN as its "… most Decorated Vessel …" before its retirement.

So it looks like the Ship will now go down in a "Blaze of Glory", here are some Pictures of it when it was still in Service with the PN. The "BRP Miguel Malvar" Name though now lives on as the most advanced and heavily-armed Vessels of the PN now, with a new Pennant number, the FFG-06.

SOURCES:

Decommissioned WW2 Corvette to be sunk during 'Balikatan' 2025 {Archived Link}

BRP Miguel Malvar PS19 - PF Facebook Page Post, 11/26/19 – 0905H {Archived Link}

Just some nice Pictures and a Video of the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) Guided Missile Corvette of the Philippine Navy (PN), the latest Missile-armed Vessel of the Service during the Arrival Ceremony given to it in Subic recently.

MY NOTES: Just some of the Things I noticed about the Ship from the Pictures and Video, aside from the installed Vertical Launch System (VLS) Cells: The Gokdeniz Close In Weapons System (CIWS) is a LOT bigger than I thought it would be, you can clearly see its Size from the Picture with the PN Personnel standing next to it.

It easily is around 3-4 meters tall, or 9-12 feet for you who are used to the United States (US) Standard of Measurement. I didn’t expect it to be that big, I thought it would be a bit smaller based on what I thought were the Full Scale Mock Ups (FSMU) that I saw at the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) Events.

Also noticeable is that Screen Mesh over the opening for the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB), and the Cover over the Torpedo Launchers that can be lowered or raised as needed. Both of these help enhance the Stealth Characteristics of the Ship.

Among other Things, the Malvar-class Corvettes will be the first Vessels of the PN that are armed with VLS and Gun-based CIWS. The Contract for these Vessels was signed in December of 2021 under the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

SOURCES:

Department of National Defense – Philippines Facebook Page Post, 04/08/25 – 1354H {Archived Link}

And the newest Missile Ship of the Philippine Navy (PN), the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) Guided Missile Corvette has reactivated its Automatic Identification System (AIS) as it passes Taiwan and is now at the Luzon Strait!!!

Welcome home, BRP Malvar!!! Great to see finally home at last!!! On a Side Note, the Contract for the BRP Malvar and its Sister Ship was signed in December of 2021 under the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Here again is the BRP Malvar’s Page on the MarineTraffic Website: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:9459225/

Great News, as expected the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) Guided Missile Corvette of the Philippine Navy left Port earlier today to begin its Journey to the Philippines. However, it has restricted access to its Automatic Identification System (AIS) and its last Position was recorded several hours ago off the Coast of South Korea (SK).

Going by past experiences with other Ships from SK and Indonesia that were delivered over the last Decade, the BRP Malvar will likely only allow public access to its AIS Position when it is near the Philippines' Territorial Waters in the next several Days.

The BRP Malvar is scheduled to arrive in Subic next Monday on April 7, 2025, although it will likely won't dock into Port until a Day or so later due to some standard Regulations, possibly related to Quarantining if I remember it correctly.

So Bon Voyage, BRP Malvar, and the Filipino People are eager to see you soon here in the Philippines. As a Side Note, the Contract for this Vessel was signed in December of 2021 under the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Here again is the BRP Malvar’s Page on the MarineTraffic Website: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:9459225/mmsi:457900820/imo:0/vessel:MIGUEL_MALVAR

The BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) Guided Missile Corvette of the Philippine Navy (PN) by the Way is now on the “MarineTraffic” Website. There are several “Miguel Malvar” Ships listed there, but this one seems to be it as it is at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Shipyard in South Korea (SK), and its Destination of “Subic” on April 7, 2025 matches the Information provided by the Main Stream Media (MSM) on the arrival of the Ship in the Philippines.

It is listed on the Websites as registered under the Flag of Mongolia, but it may just be some lame attempt at “Psychological Operations” to confuse People. Interesting that its forecasted Route won’t bring it to the “Taiwan Strait”, or that Body of Water between Taiwan and China, but will instead sail East of Taiwan or thru the Philippine Sea.

Now the United States (US) and their Filipino Doggies will use this opportunity again to DEMONIZE China and shout, “Military Secrecy” because they want to keep portraying China always as the “Devil Incarnate”. All I can say is that these Information is available in the Internet openly and everyone can verify them if they want to.

As for China, no, I don’t think they will do anything to this Ship at all, for one, although I am proud of this Ship, it barely matches up to their latest Frigates and Destroyers. Remember that China is a World Superpower with only the US as their Rival, and they have over a hundred and fifty Surface Combatants, they will hardly care of a single Ship like this.

As I previously reported quoting News Sources, the Ship is scheduled to start its Journey to the Philippines on Monday, March 31, 2025.

Here is the BRP Malvar’s Page on the MarineTraffic Website: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:9459225/mmsi:457900820/imo:0/vessel:MIGUEL_MALVAR