Rajah Sulayman-class OPV BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) 19 January 2026, Philippine Navy photo

Army Recognition reports the launch of the third of six new Korean built Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Philippine Navy.

These may be important ships in the Philippine’s ongoing disagreement with China. Since these look an awful lot like Coast Guard cutters, thought I would provide some description. Wikipedia has more complete information.

Note that the first of class was laid down 5 February 2025 and commissioned 24 February 2026. The ship was built in less than a year. The second of class was commissioned 9 June, 2026.

• Length: 94.5 m (310 ft 0 in)
• Beam: 14.3 m (46 ft 11 in)
• Draft: 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
• Speed: 22 knots
• Range: 5500 nautical miles at 15 knots
• Complement: 72
• 1 × 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapidmain gun
• 2 × 30mm Aselsan SMASH 200/30RCWS secondary guns
• 2 × 12.7mm heavy machine guns

Wikipedia notes,

GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. of Canada was selected by Hyundai Heavy Industries to supply three (3) units of its TRAPS (“Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar”) towed-array sonar system as part of the weapons and sensor systems acquisition project of the Philippine Navy for the Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessels.

Her length reminds me of my first ship, USCGC McCullough (WHEC-386), a “311” about the same size. When I was on her, she a 5″/38, two M32 triple torpedo tubes, Hedgehogs, and a hull mounted sonar. And of course we had a much larger crew.