Overview
- The Philippine Navy formally put BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS‑21) into service on June 9 during its 128th anniversary ceremony led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
- Rajah Lakandula is the second of six 2,400‑ton Sulayman‑class offshore patrol vessels ordered from HD Hyundai under a ₱30 billion contract with remaining ships due in batches through 2028.
- The Sulayman OPVs carry a Leonardo 76mm main gun, an Aselsan 30mm secondary gun, Terma C‑Guard decoy systems, Leonardo SPS‑732 radar and a Safran Paseo XLR electro‑optical/IR system.
- Hours after the commissioning, Manila lodged a diplomatic protest to Beijing after the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported a roughly 6-by-6‑metre floating platform with an antenna that appeared to be manned inside Scarborough Shoal’s lagoon.
- The event followed recent steps to improve naval reach — dredging at the Manila headquarters to berth larger ships, delivery of guided‑missile frigates and shore‑based BrahMos missiles, expanded patrols and growing cooperation with partners and local universities on unmanned systems.