CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Once reliant on aging, second-hand vessels from the United States, a steady drumbeat of new warships is beginning to enter Philippine Navy service.

The new capabilities are part of a rapid modernization program there, prompted by aggressive Chinese tactics and territorial claims in the adjacent South China Sea .

The world’s largest shipbuilder, South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), is the primary supplier of these new vessels, and the latest warship to enter Philippine service is a second HDF-3200 Hybrid frigate.

The Philippine Navy – or PN for short – commissioned BRP Diego Silang on Dec. 2. The milestone came just six and half months after the first-of-class BRP Miguel Malvare entered service.

The two frigates had been ordered from HD HHI vi

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