Frigate Lot 2B - Surface-to-Air Missile Acquisition of the Philippine Navy

The Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B - Surface-to-Air Missile Acquisition Project is a Horizon 1 Phase Priority Project of the Revised AFP Modernization Program (RAFPMP) that allows the Department of National Defense (DND) to purchase ammunition for the Jose Rizal-class frigate's Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) System based on the combination between MBDA Missile System's Simbad-RC twin missile launchers and the Mistral VSHORAD missile.

This project only involves the missile itself, as the launchers are part of the Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 1 - Frigate Platform Project.

The MistralVSHORAD missile was tested recently against small surface targets, and was proven to be able to hit them. The missile was launched from a Simbad-RC launcher. Photo taken from MBDA.

Project Summary:

Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B - Surface-to-Air Missile Acquisition Project

Note: Edited as of 11 October 2021:

* End User: Philippine Navy (Offshore Combat Force)

* Quantity: 1 lot (exact numbers left unmentioned due to OPSEC reasons)

* Modernization Phase: Horizon 1 phase Priority Projects of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php670,000,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Direct Contracting with MBDA

* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund

* SARO Release: TBA

* Winning Proponent: MBDA Missile Systems (France)

* Product for Delivery: MBDA Mistral VSHORAD Missiles

* Contract Price: €10,690,000.00 (approx. Php639,262,000.00)

* Residual Amount: Php30,708,000.00

* Searching Hashtag: #PNFAPSAMAcquisition

* Status: NOA released in favor of MBDA, received 11 February 2019, Contract signed by March 2019. Awaiting delivery by 2020-2021. Philippine Navy announced that full delivery was made on 08 October 2021. PROJECT COMPLETED.


Product Flyer (from MBDA Missile Systems):

Product brochures taken from MBDA's website.

Product Technical Specifications:

Taken from WeaponSystems.net, based on Mistral 2. MaxDefense believes that the PN variant could use the Mistral 3/Mistral RMV.

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U P D A T E S:
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29 September 2016:

As posted on MaxDefense's community social media page:

Day 2 at ADAS 2016 saw MaxDefense visiting MBDA's stall, where most of the displays are infographics of their products on offer, including the Simbad-RC naval air defense missile system, Mistral 3 VSHORAD system, Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missile, and the Marte ER and Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship coastal battery systems.

MaxDefense previously confirmed that the upcoming frigates to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Philippine Navy was offered to be armed with the Simbad-RC launchers with Mistral VSHORAD missiles as its preliminary air defense system prior to the installation of a vertical launch system in the future.

MaxDefense is an Official Media Partner of ADAS 2016.

Top shows the Simbad-RC launcher, while bottom shows the missile, the Mistral 3 VSHORAD missile. Photos taken from ADAS 2016 by MaxDefense community members.

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17 November 2017:

As posted on MaxDefense's community social media page:
With the DND's Frigate Project Steering Committee declaring the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase complete as of October 2017, it was decided by the Steering Committee to go ahead with Hyundai Heavy Industry's Alternate Configuration instead of the Original Baseline Configuration that the Philippine Navy has been fighting for.

This allowed Hyundai to start awarding contracts to supply subsystems for the new frigates, with the partial summary below:

• Hanwha Systems supplying the Naval Shield Baseline 2 Integrated Combat Management System (replaced Thales Nederland TACTICOS);
• Servowatch supplying the Ship Management System:
• Kelvin Hughes supplying Sharpeye Naval Navigation Radar System;
• Safran supplying PASEO NS naval Electro-Optical Tracking System (replaced Hanwha Systems SAQ-560K);
• Terma supplying C-Guard softkill countermeasures system (replaced Wallop Super Barricade due to Lacroix's acquisition of the SB's manufacturer);
• Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd supplying triple lightweight torpedo launchers (retained fron Baseline Config);
• Aselsan supplying the Smash 30mm Renote Weapon System (replacing MSI Defence Seahawk);
• STX Engine supplying the main propulsion and generator diesel engine systems (replaced MTU)

Since Hyundai Heavy Industries has started awarding contracts to subsystem suppliers, might as well declare what are the other contents of the Alternate Configuration as a proof that our previous statements are indeed based on the submitted Alternate Configuration list of Hyundai:

• 3D Air/Surface Search Radar - this is a bit confusing since Hyundai submitted it as "Hensoldt TRS-3D AESA" (replacing Thales Nederland NS106). So far, Hensoldt's TRS-3D is not an AESA radar system, although the next generation TRS-4D is an AESA system. Based on our sources, the PN assumes the offer to be the lesser capable TRS-3D although no specific variant was indiicated by Hyundai in its submitted Alternate Configuration submission;
• Fire Control Radar - Leonardo (Selex) NA-25X FCR (replacing Thales Nederland STIR 1.2 EO Mk2);
• Electronic Support Measures - Elbit Elisra NS9300A (will hold the exact variant for now, replacing the Thales Vigile 100 Mk2);
• Identification Friend or Foe - Airbus MSSR 20001 - (replacing Thales TBSB 2525 - this needs to match the 3D radar).
• Hull Mounted Sonar - Harris (formerly Exelis) Model 997 (replacing Thales Underwater Systems Bluewatcher);
• Tactical Data Link - Hanwha Systems Link K (replacing Thales Link Y Mk2);
• Main Gun - Leonardo (Oto Melara) 76mm Super Rapid (retained from Baseline Config);
• SSM - LIGNex1 SSM-700K C-Star (retained from Baseline Config);
• VSHORAD - MBDA Simbad-RC with Mistral missile (retained from Baseline Config).

This list will allow everyone to see if the subsystems within the Alternate Configuation meets the technical specifications of the frigates, although several comply with the specs but are inferior to the systems they replaced.

The Simbad-RC launcher and Mistral VSHORAD missile. Photo taken from MBDA's website.

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08 March 2019:

As posted on MaxDefense's community social media page:

The Department of National Defense has released the Notice of Award to MBDA France for the acquisition of MBDA Mistral short range surface-to-air missiles as part of the Philippine Navy's Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B (Missiles and Munitions) under the Horizon 1 phase of the RAFPMP.

The contract is worth €10,690,000.00, which is equivalent to around Php639,262,000.00. The deal appears to have been a negotiated procurement, since it cannot be bidded to other companies as the missiles must match the missile launcher installed on the frigates.

These missiles will be used to arm the MBDA Simbad-RC which will be supplied by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) as part of their delivery of the Jose Rizal-class frigates under the Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 1 for the PN.

The missiles will be used as the frigate's primary air defense system until a Vertical Launching System (VLS) is installed by the PN, which is currently a Fitted For But Not With (FFBNW) item. The Simbad-RC Mistral SHORAD combo can also be used to defend the frigate from sea skimming anti-ship cruise missiles.

Take note that this isn't the first time the AFP will receive Mistral SHORADS.

The Notice of Award (NOA) released in favor of MBDA Missile Systems. Photo taken from DND's BAC website.

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11 October 2021:

The Philippine Navy announced that they have received the full delivery of all Mistral-3 missiles on 08 October 2021, which arrived at Subic Bay Freeport.

It is assumed that due to the limited number of missiles acquired, testing of an actual round won't be included in the delivery requirements, but will be done separately as part of live fire exercises by the Philippine Navy.

Here's the report from Inquirer.net as of 11 October 2021:

PH Navy’s first ever surface-to-air missiles delivered

By: Frances Mangosing - Reporter / @FMangosingINQINQUIRER.net / 07:31 PM October 11, 2021

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Navy has received its first ever surface-to-air-missiles for two of its newest warships, bolstering the country’s capability to defend its sovereignty.

The missiles were delivered at the Subic Bay International Airport on Friday (Oct. 8), the Navy said in a statement.

France’s MBDA is supplying Mistral 3 short-range air defense systems for the new Jose Rizal-class warships—BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151).

The Navy said the missiles will bolster air warfare capability and will boost maritime operations of the two warships.

“Surface-to-air missiles are among the primary weapons of FF150 and FF151 that bolster the PN’s air warfare capability,” Navy public affairs chief Cdr. Benjo Negranza said.

“The arrival of these missiles will greatly capacitate our JRC frigates in the conduct of their maritime operations,” he said.

The Rizal-class warships were built by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries and were delivered to the Philippines in 2020 and early 2021.

The Navy is also expecting surface-to-surface missiles from South Korea’s LIG Nex 1 in early 2022.

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22 May 2022:

The Philippine Navy confirmed that it  plans to conduct test firing of the missiles, most likely by June 2022. So far, the PN has not conducted any tests of its new Mistral missiles, and this would be the first one.

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With all Mistral-3 short range surface-to-air missiles and accessories already delivered to the Philippine Navy, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the Frigate Lot 2B Surface-to-Air Missile Acquisition Projects of the Philippine Navy as COMPLETED.

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First edit and release: 01 March 2020
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource