AFP launches BRP Rajah Sulayman offshore patrol vessel in South Korea

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officially launched the BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), an offshore patrol vessel, in Ulsan, South Korea on June 11.

General Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, emphasized the strategic importance of the launch, highlighting its role in advancing maritime security and defense capabilities amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first of six offshore patrol vessels ordered from shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for PHP30 billion in 2022; it will undergo sea trials and weapon fittings before being delivered to the Philippine Navy next year.

Named after Rajah Sulayman, a native leader who resisted foreign conquest during Spanish colonization, the vessel symbolizes Filipino resilience and independence as part of expanding naval fleet.

The event underscores the strong partnership between the Philippines and South Korea in enhancing maritime security and self-reliant defense, with Manila increasingly relying on South Korean military equipment to counter China's presence in the region.