Philippine Navy to Receive First Follow‑On SSV This Year After PT PAL Delays
Formal / News Style Delivery of follow-on Strategic Sealift Vessel marks milestone despite Indonesian shipyard setbacks PT PAL delays push Philippine Navy’s new sealift vessel arrival to late 2026 🔹 Neutral & Informative First follow-on Tarlac-class ship to bolster Philippines’ amphibious and disaster response capabilities Follow-on SSV will enhance naval logistics and strategic sealift capacity for the Philippine Navy 🔹 Impactful After delays, Philippine Navy moves closer to expanding fleet with new sealift capabilities
The Philippine Navy is set to receive the first of two follow‑on Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs) — also known as landing platform docks (LPDs) — by the end of 2026, despite earlier delays attributed to contractual hurdles faced by Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL. The delivery marks a key milestone in the Philippines’ naval modernization program, even though the timeline has shifted significantly from original projections.
Background: A Follow‑On Order for Sealift Capability
The follow‑on contract was signed in June 2022 for approximately $100.9 million (P5.59 billion) to build two new 7,200‑ton SSVs, each measuring about 124 meters in length and designed to carry landing craft and support amphibious operations. These follow‑on vessels are repeat orders after an earlier order from 2014 that produced the first two ships of the Tarlac class, which remain key sealift and humanitarian assistance assets for the Philippine Navy.
The contract envisioned a robust support platform that can transport troops, vehicles and equipment and serve in disaster response, search and rescue, and other multi‑mission roles — a capability deemed critical for a maritime nation composed of more than 7,000 islands.
Delays and Revised Delivery Schedules
Originally, the first of the follow‑on SSVs was scheduled to be delivered in the first week of November 2025. However, construction and delivery milestones were repeatedly missed due to what Philippine and PT PAL officials described as “challenges the proponent is facing.” These included not meeting contractual milestones such as steel cutting, keel laying or planned launch dates that industry watchers cited as signs of production strain and capacity constraints at the Indonesian yard.
The keel for the first vessel was laid in January 2024, followed by steel cut procedures for the second. Despite these steps, the schedule shifted, with the new target for delivery set to November 2026 — a full year after the originally intended date.
PT PAL has attributed some of the delays to broader geopolitical conditions and external factors that affected supply chains and production pacing, although the specifics were not publicly detailed. Analysts see such delays as part of broader challenges in regional shipbuilding, where capacity and workforce issues can ripple across defence orders.
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Strategic Importance of SSVs
For the Philippine Navy, these follow‑on SSVs represent more than just new hulls. They are part of an evolving fleet architecture aimed at increasing operational reach, disaster response capacity, and amphibious lift capability. The original Tarlac class has demonstrated utility in a variety of roles — from troop transport and humanitarian missions to multinational exercises — and the new ships are expected to augment and eventually replace some of the Navy’s older logistics platforms.
The strategic sealift vessels are designed with ample deck space, troop accommodation, and the ability to support helicopter operations, making them versatile contributors to national defence and maritime security. Their role includes facilitating rapid force movement across the archipelago as well as serving in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, a mission set increasingly critical for a country prone to natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
Broader Naval Modernization
The follow‑on SSVs complement other modernization efforts by the Philippine Navy, which has been acquiring a mix of combat and support vessels to expand its maritime capability. These include offshore patrol vessels, frigates, and other platform types from South Korean and international shipbuilders as part of a multi‑year program to strengthen defence posture and maritime security capacity.
The Philippine government’s sustained investment into these platforms reflects a strategic emphasis on enhancing deterrence and operational flexibility in a complex regional security environment, especially in contested waters of the South China Sea. As new platforms come online, such as modern OPVs and guided‑missile frigates, support vessels like SSVs will play a vital role in enabling extended deployments and joint operations.
Looking Ahead
While the delivery of the first follow‑on SSV by November 2026 represents progress, observers will be watching closely how PT PAL and Philippine defence planners manage the second vessel’s construction and delivery. Continued close cooperation and clear milestone management will be essential if Manila is to avoid further delays and ensure fleet requirements are met on schedule.
For now, the upcoming arrival of the first follow‑on vessel underscores both the ongoing challenges and the enduring partnerships underpinning the Philippine Navy’s modernization journey — a testament to how strategic sealift capability remains at the heart of its expanding maritime ambitions. Start writing...
About the Creator
Fiaz Ahmed
I am Fiaz Ahmed. I am a passionate writer. I love covering trending topics and breaking news. With a sharp eye for what’s happening around the world, and crafts timely and engaging stories that keep readers informed and updated.
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