South Korea’s growing role as a key arms supplier to the Philippines has taken another step forward, with Hanwha Systems set to provide the “brain” that will run two of the Philippine Navy’s next-generation warships.
The South Korean defence manufacturer said on Wednesday that it had secured a US$27.7 million contract to supply combat management systems (CMS) and tactical data links for two 3,200-tonne frigates being built for the Philippine Navy.
A CMS integrates a warship’s sensors, weapons and communications into a single system for command and control, while tactical data links allow forces to share information in real time during operations.
Hanwha said the system would be tailored to the Philippines’ complex maritime environment, with the country made up of over 7,600 islands.
The deal is the latest in a series of major acquisitions from Seoul, which analysts said underscores how South Korean defence systems have become central to the Philippines’ military modernisation drive amid tensions in the South China Sea.
The CMS contract marks the fifth time the Philippine Navy has sourced such systems from Hanwha since 2017.
