Philippines Buys Italian Secondhand Frigates

06.08.2012 Philippines defense ministry came to terms with Italian partners to purchase two Maestrale-class guided missile frigates from Italian Navy, reports Malaya Business Insight referring to Philippines defense minister Voltaire Gazmin. As for him, value of the contract would make about $280 mln.

The contract for ships commissioned into Italian Navy in 80's is to be signed in Jan 2013; after appropriate overhaul, they will be handed over to the client in Nov 2013. According to Gazmin, Maestrale-class frigates will be the strongest ships in Philippines Navy. The ships will be sold along with onboard antiaircraft and antiship weapons.

Presently, Italian Navy operates eight Maestrale-class frigates, namely Maestrale, Grecale, Libeccio, Scirocco, Aliseo, Euro, Espero, and Zeffiro. So far, it is unknown what ships will be bought by Philippines. All of them were commissioned in 1982-1985. Displacing 2.5 tons, the frigates are capable to make up to 32 knots; their operating range is 6,000 miles.

Frigates are armed with four antiship missile launchers Teseo, SAM system Aspide, 127-mm gun mount Otobreda, two 40-mm gun mounts DARDO, and two 533-mm torpedo tubes.

Earlier on, Philippines defense minister declared that his agency was about to buy ten new Japanese patrol ships for national coast guard. As for him, the ships will be based in the western part of the Philippine Sea. No details have been disclosed so far.