(Photo from BFP Jose Rizal Facebook page) MANILA - The Philippine Navy's (PN) first missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), is certified ready to perform naval missions after undergoing a three-day operational readiness evaluation (ORE) in Subic Bay, Zambales last week. The annual ORE, held on Aug. 24-26, determines the state of preparedness and effectiveness in performing its mission based on available equipment and material inventory and the readiness of its crew. The evaluation was facilitated by the ORE Team composed of 11 fleet operational readiness training and evaluation group (FORTEG) headed by its director Lt. Commander Jonathan Layno. "During the three-day ORE period, the Director FORTEG and its team members were impressed and satisfied with the skills and performance of the crew, especially on the new evolutions showcased such as the replenishment-at-sea, NBC attack, and general quarters with multi-threat attacks. Through this test, the ORE team handed over its fi
(Photo from BRP Jose Rizal Facebook page) MANILA - Some 18 new Philippine Navy (PN) officers received training on the modern weapon systems of the country's first-ever missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150). The officers underwent a week-long training on Basic Combat Systems Officer Course which includes weapons familiarization training onboard the ship. Among the learnings included the fundamental characteristics of the K6 .50 caliber QRB heavy machine gun, remote-controlled 30mm Mk-44 Bushmaster auto-cannon, 76mm Super Rapid multi-feeding gun, triple-trainable torpedo launch system, 6T decoy launch system, surface-to-air MBDA missile launch system, surface-to-surface missile launch system, and the Mistral-3 missiles. "They were integrated with the daily routine of the weapons crew to perform the ship's weapons system sustainment program which includes the equipment operations procedure, equipment maintenance procedure, and weapons preparation doctrine," a post
(Screengrab from BRP Antonio Luna Facebook video) MANILA - The BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), one of the Philippine Navy (PN)'s two guided missile frigates, conducted "man overboard" (MOB) drill during a recent patrol at the West Philippine Sea (WPS). "In order to evaluate the confidence and skills of FF-151 OOWs (officers on watch) in performing maneuvers for MOB, FF-151 conducts MOB drills during her patrol at WPS," a Facebook post on Sunday night. Among those evaluated are the initial actions of the bridge team, the constant monitoring of the location of the MOB, and the actions taken to ensure that there is no delay in saving the life of the person who has fallen overboard. MOB is defined by marineinsight.com as an emergency situation where a member of the ship's crew "falls out at sea from the ship due to unforeseen circumstances which are but not limited to; bad weather, swell, accidents, and/or negligence." "No matter where the ship is sail
BRP Antonio Luna (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy) MANILA - While the country continues to pick up from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Navy (PN) managed to continue with significant upgrades that will further enhance its capability to protect the country's waters. This year, the country got its second missile frigate, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), and was commissioned along with several equipment whose funding source has been assured. BRP Antonio Luna arrived in the country last February 9 and was formally commissioned at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor on March 13. The frigate, along with its sister ship, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), is capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic-guided torpedoes, and an embarked anti-submarine helicopter. The BRP Antonio Luna entered the waters of Capones Island, Zambales last February 9, four days after leaving the Hyundai Heavy Industr
SAM TRAINING. A Philippine Navy personnel undergoes training on the operation and maintenance of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The intermediate level maintenance training was carried out by the original equipment manufacturers of the newly delivered Mistral 3, the Navy said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Oct. 19, 2021). (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Navy) MANILA - Personnel of the Philippine Navy's (PN) Naval Combat Systems Center and crew members of the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country's first missile frigate, have completed their training for the operation and maintenance of the ship's newly delivered Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The intermediate level maintenance (ILM) training was carried out by the original equipment manufacturers of the Mistral 3. "Successfully completed after two weeks of face-to-face discussion and hands-on activities, the trainees familiarized themselves and got first-hand experience on the operation and ma