By Junex Doronio

IN THE FACE OF IMMINENT EXTERNAL THREATS, a ranking Department of National Defense (DND) official has disclosed that the agency will be purchasing two (2) modern submarines from South Korea.

The move was part of the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“The plan is now in the pipeline and is geared towards the acquisition of two modern submarines,” Defense Undersecretary Irineo Espino said on Friday, November 17.

He bared that one of the manufacturers was Hanwha Ocean, which is among the leading shipbuilders in South Korea where he was earlier briefed on the capabilities of the Jang Bogo-class submarine.

Espino was designated as DND Officer-In-Charge (OIC) by Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. from Nov. 14 to 17 while he was in Jakarta, Indonesia for an official foreign mission.

The DND has included the acquisition of two submarines in its “wish list” submitted to President Marcos Jr. as part of the third phase of the AFP modernization program.

According to Espino, the South Korean submarine — currently operated by the South Korean Navy — was proposed for the submarine acquisition program of the Philippine Navy.

Last month, Espino was also briefed on the progress of the construction of two missile corvettes during his visit to the headquarters of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

A corvette is a type of naval warship capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare missions.

To recall, the DND signed a P28-billion contract with HHI in 2021 for the acquisition of two brand-new missile corvettes for the Philippine Navy.

“With the changing global security environment, the Philippines must be equipped with modern defense assets,” Espino said.

It was gathered that the first corvette is expected to be delivered in 2025, and the other one in 2026.

Espino expressed confidence that the AFP would be able to acquire more modern weapon systems under the Marcos Jr. administration.

(ai/mnm)