MANILA – Crew members of the Philippine Navy (PN)'s first missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), have completed a three-day qualification training for the fuelling at sea (FAS) evolution with the help of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The FAS or the capability to refuel while at sea is considered one of the hallmarks of a modern Navy.
The BRP Jose Rizal, in a Facebook post late Monday, said the three-day training took place at Naval Operating Base Subic last Sept. 27 to 29 with the assistance of the RAN Fleet Training Group.
This is in preparation for the actual FAS evolution for Exercise "Sama-Sama"/ "LUMBAS" this month.
"Three personnel of RAN led by Lt. Commander Nigel Williams conducted (a) series of lectures and actual drills on the first two days. On the third day, the RAN Sea Training team conducted an assessment on the actual performance of FF-150 personnel with satisfactory results," it added.
It also said passing the RAN's FAS qualification is another milestone for the personnel of BRP Jose Rizal as they continue to gain more capability for the PN.
The BRP Jose Rizal and its sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), are modern warships capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic guided torpedoes, and an embarked anti-submarine helicopter.
The BRP Jose Rizal was delivered to the Philippines in May 2020 and commissioned in July of the same year while the BRP Antonio Luna was commissioned on March 19, 2021.
The contract for the two ships was placed at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.
(PNA)