San Antonio: The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that its flagship guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), successfully fired two MBDA Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers for the first time. The test-firing took place in the waters of San Antonio, Zambales.
According to Philippines News Agency, the two drones targeted by the BRP Jose Rizal were supplied by the US Indo-Pacific Command's Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability and Threat Systems Management Office. The ship successfully hit both targets. This event, described as historic by the Navy, validated the effectiveness of a new capability for the PN and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The test-firing was monitored in real-time at the Philippine Fleet headquarters in Subic by Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe, Fleet Commander, along with unit commanders and staff.
Commodore Raul Regis, Offshore Combat Force head and Naval Task Force commander, executed the actual scenario-based test firing aboard the BRP Jose Rizal. The frigate also participated in a simulated Integrated Air and Missile Defense exercise with other participants of "Balikatan" 2025 on April 27. Observers included the Commander of the Army Artillery Regiment and members of the Technical Working Group for the Short-Range Air Defense Project.
The exercise received support from other Fleet capital assets such as BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), MUARS Flight Bravo's Scan Eagle ISR UAS, missile gunboat BRP Albert Majini (PG-909), and coastal patrol vessel BRP Rafael Pargas (PG-379). The Mistral 3, developed by MBDA of France, is a short-range air defense missile system with a "fire and forget" capability, enhancing the Jose Rizal Class Frigate's advanced weapon systems.
The integration of the missiles into the BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna in October 2021 significantly enhances the Fleet's capability to uphold territorial integrity and protect maritime interests. This successful firing underscores the PN's commitment to modernizing its personnel, assets, and systems, while also serving as a prelude to the PN's 127th anniversary celebration in May.
