PH 1st warship in ‘drills’ to help identify design flaws

The BRP Jose Rizal in Honolulu, Hawaii (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy via PNA)

MANILA – The deployment of BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country’s first missile-frigate, to the US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises would test its system and help identify and correct design flaws, an official of the Philippine Navy said Monday.

“Our ship is new and it is only through constant use (will its) imperfections come out. It is better that while the ship is still on its warranty period will these imperfections come out so we can have the contractor fix it,” said Navy chief, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, in an interview over DZBB.

The two-week naval exercises, which is scheduled on August 17-31 in Honolulu, Hawaii, will give additional training to Navy personnel on the four dimensions of modern naval warfare which include anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine and electronic warfare.

“The capabilities of our Navy personnel on these skills will be honed (with RIMPAC),” Bacordo said.

BRP Jose Rizal, procured by the Philippine government from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, arrived in Subic Bay, Zambales last May 23.

The ship departed Subic Bay on July 29 for the RIMPAC maneuvers and arrived in Honolulu on August 15.