Lagalag

23/09/2026

THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD HAS ENTERED “SHIP-RECEIVING SEASON”! 😂🇵🇭🚢

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been busy receiving vessels from different sources.

On September 21, 2026, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Foundation formally turned over a 61-meter training ship to the PCG. The vessel is intended for civilian maritime missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, marine environmental protection and maritime training. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said it will be deployed in Mindanao.

But here's the interesting part: Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration had separately confirmed that it donated a decommissioned 500-ton patrol vessel to the Philippines. A credible source subsequently identified the ship handed over through the WPS Foundation as the former Taiwanese Coast Guard vessel Kinmen (CG-123).

So, technically:

🇹🇼 Taiwan Coast Guard → WPS Foundation → Philippine Coast Guard

A rather unusual route for a vessel donation — and one that has attracted attention because Manila and Taipei do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.

23/09/2026

🇰🇷🇵🇭 A major milestone for the KF-21 Boramae!

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) officially received its first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae on September 22, 2026, marking the transition of the aircraft from development into operational service. The first aircraft flew from KAI's Sacheon facility to its initial operating base at Yecheon, accompanied by FA-50, TA-50 and T-50 aircraft.

South Korea plans to receive 120 KF-21s, with the first 40 focused primarily on air-to-air capabilities and subsequent aircraft gaining expanded air-to-ground/air-to-ship capabilities.

🇵🇭 For the Philippines, the KF-21 remains one of the aircraft being considered for the Philippine Air Force's Multi-Role Fighter program. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in July that South Korea's KF-21 was among the options being evaluated, alongside offerings from Saab, Lockheed Martin, Dassault and Eurofighter.

However, I couldn't verify from authoritative sources that the Philippines has formally committed to finalizing a KF-21 contract by the end of 2026 or the first half of 2027. Current reporting describes the Philippines as an export candidate and says discussions are ongoing.

23/09/2026

The PCG has previously pursued a dedicated Light Trainer Helicopter requirement, and Robinson now markets the R66 specifically in a military-trainer configuration with Garmin glass avionics, autopilot and NVG compatibility.

Meanwhile, the Bell 505 has a documented Coast Guard training pedigree: Bell says Japan Coast Guard received four Bell 505s in 2018 and uses them as its basic helicopter trainers. Japan's own Coast Guard material lists the Bell 505 “Oruri” in its aircraft fleet, while a JCG procurement notice also references Bell 505 training materials.

For the Philippines, the U.S. Congressional Record documents a proposed 22-aircraft Bell 505 package for the Philippine government, including pilot and maintenance training and simulators, at an estimated $150 million. That documentation describes the acquisition as addressing rotary-wing training gaps, but it doesn't establish from the document alone which Philippine service would receive each aircraft.

22/09/2026

22/09/2026

🇵🇭🚨 MALAKING UPDATE! PH ARMY NAGSUMITE NA NG MISSILE PLAN

May bagong malaking hakbang ang Philippine Army sa missile capability. Ayon kay Army chief Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, naisumite na ng Philippine Army sa Department of National Defense (DND) ang modernization plan nito para sa missile system acquisition. Hindi pa ibinunyag kung anong missile system o kung saang bansa ito manggagaling.

🔴 Wala pang opisyal na napipiling missile system — kaya hindi pa makumpirma ang mga lumalabas na pangalan gaya ng Japan's Type 88.

🔴 Ang plano ay bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng Army para sa territorial/external defense at sa pagpapatupad ng Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.

🔴 May nauna nang hakbang ang Army: noong 2026, iniulat ng PNA ang provisional activation ng 1st Ground-Launched Missile Battalion sa ilalim ng Army Artillery Regiment.

🔴 Kasabay nito, pinag-aaralan din ng Army ang mga bagong artillery, mechanized at air-defense capabilities, kabilang ang medium-range missile systems para sa air defense.

🇵🇭 Ano ang posibleng ibig sabihin nito?

Kung maaprubahan at maisakatuparan ang procurement, maaaring magkaroon ang Philippine Army ng mas malaking papel sa land-based missile defense at long-range fires, kasabay ng mga missile capability na mayroon na sa Philippine Marine Corps, gaya ng BrahMos coastal-defense system.

Importanteng punto: Plan submitted ≠ approved procurement ≠ selected missile. Sa ngayon, ang kumpirmado ay naisumite na ang plano sa DND; wala pang opisyal na detalye sa missile model, supplier, quantity o halaga.

22/09/2026

🇰🇷🇵🇭 PHILIPPINE NAVY'S NEW KOREAN WARSHIPS: OPVs & 3,200-TON FRIGATES

There is a substantial ongoing HD Hyundai program for the Philippine Navy, with six 2,400-ton OPVs and two additional 3,200-ton frigates under contract.

🚢 2,400-ton OPVs

HD Hyundai is building six 2,400-ton offshore patrol vessels for the Philippine Navy. The contract, signed in June 2022, is worth about ₱30 billion / US$573 million. The ships are 94.4 m long, have a maximum speed of 22 knots and a range of about 5,500 nautical miles.

The first two are already in Philippine service:

BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) — commissioned in January 2026
BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-21) — commissioned June 9, 2026
Four remaining OPVs — scheduled for delivery through 2028.
⚓ 3,200-ton frigates

HD Hyundai also signed a December 2025 contract for two additional 3,200-ton frigates for the Philippine Navy. The ships form part of the Navy's follow-on frigate acquisition and are scheduled for delivery by 2029.

These are separate from the six OPVs and represent a considerably more capable surface-combatant category. HD Hyundai's Philippine frigate design incorporates a combat-management system, 3D radar, electro-optical tracking, hull-mounted sonar, 76-mm gun, anti-ship missiles, short-range air-defense capability, lightweight torpedoes and electronic warfare systems.

22/09/2026

Let's go

22/09/2026

🇰🇷🇵🇭🇯🇵 PHILIPPINE NAVY ABUKUMA-CLASS: KOREAN C-STAR MISSILES?

There are reports and discussion surrounding the future armament of the Abukuma-class ships, but the specific claim that all five Philippine Navy ships will receive Korean SSM-700K/“C-Star” missiles is currently unconfirmed.

🇵🇭 Five Abukumas are now confirmed

This part has changed significantly. On July 7, 2026, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the Philippines would receive five retired Japanese Abukuma-class ships under Japan's Official Security Assistance program, with delivery expected within two to three years.

The Abukuma class is approximately 109 m long, can reach about 27 knots, and was originally equipped for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.

🚀 What about the Korean C-Star?

The SSM-700K Haeseong, commonly called C-Star, is already a Philippine Navy weapon. The PN operates it on its Jose Rizal-class frigates, and the newer Malvar-class frigates are also being equipped with C-Star launchers.

That makes a Korean missile integration concept technically plausible, particularly because the Philippines already has experience operating the missile and its associated support infrastructure.

However, there is no official announcement I found confirming that the five Abukumas will be re-armed with C-Star missiles.

The original Abukuma armament includes RGM-84C Harpoon anti-ship missiles, along with a 76-mm gun, Phalanx CIWS, ASROC and torpedoes.

🇯🇵 Another possibility: Japanese missiles

Interestingly, there is also a separate, officially reported Japanese missile discussion. USNI News reported in June 2026 that Philippine officials expressed interest in Japan's Type 88 anti-ship missile as a coastal-defense option.

Reuters also reported in May 2026 that Japan was considering exporting surface-to-ship missiles to the Philippines.

So there are currently three distinct pieces of the story:

Item Status
🇯🇵 Five Abukuma-class ships Confirmed
🇰🇷 C-Star rearmament Unconfirmed report
🇯🇵 Type 88 / other Japanese missile cooperation Reported Philippine interest