PH Navy ‘Ilustrados’ undergo weapon systems training

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2021): PH Navy ‘Ilustrados’ undergo weapon systems training (By Priam Nepomuceno)

WEAPONS TRAINING. Crew members of the BRP Jose Rizal undergo weapons training in this undated photo. The ship on Thursday (Sept. 30, 2021) said these include operational level trainings for surface-to-air missile, fire control radar, and 76mm Super Rapid multi-feeding gun. (Photo courtesy of BRP Jose Rizal Facebook page)

The officers and crew members of the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country's first guided-missile frigate, are constantly training on the ship's various weapon systems and other related platforms to ensure their readiness at all times.

"BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) conducts operational level trainings for surface-to-air missile (SAM), fire control radar (FCR), and 76mm Super Rapid multi-feeding gun from their respective original equipment manufacturers (OEM)," the ship said in its Facebook post on Thursday.

It added that these trainings are needed to maintain the so-called "advantages at sea".

"The ultimate goal is to ensure that when critical situations arise, the 'Ilustrados' (the ship and crew's nickname) will be ready to accomplish operational and tactical objectives," it added.

"Alongside these trainings, FF-150 is continuing the combat information center personnel qualification standard (CICPQS) course, a pilot program for CIC and weapons personnel to elevate their warfare knowledge and expertise," it added.

Strategic training like these must be adopted since the BRP Jose Rizal is one of the Philippine Navy (PN)'s most versatile ships in securing and protecting the country's vast maritime domains.

The ship is capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.

The BRP Jose Rizal was launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea on May 23, 2019.

Its sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), was launched in the same facility on November 8 of the same year.

The BRP Jose Rizal was commissioned on July 10, 2020. The contract for the two ships was PHP16 billion, along with PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155149