The Philippine Navy will deploy one of its Malvar-class frigates to Australia to participate in Exercise Kakadu 2026, reinforcing the country’s commitment to regional maritime security and strengthening defense cooperation with partner nations.

“Yes. One of our Malvar-class frigates will participate in that exercise. We are yet to identify which among the Malvar-class frigates will be deployed, as we are still expecting changes as the exercise planning is ongoing,” Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez told the DAILY TRIBUNE in Filipino during a phone interview on Friday. 

The Philippine Navy currently operates two commissioned Miguel Malvar–class guided-missile frigates—the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), commissioned on 20 May 2025, and the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), commissioned on 2 December 2025.

The deployment was confirmed following bilateral talks between the Philippine Fleet (PF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) held on 28 January in Makati City. 

The discussions were led by Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe, Commander of the Philippine Fleet, and Vice Admiral Mark David Hammond, Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy.

According to the Philippine Fleet’s Public Affairs Office, the bilateral engagement served as a strategic platform for both navies to align priority initiatives on training, capability development, and operational cooperation. 

A key highlight of the talks was the planned participation of the Philippine Navy in Exercise Kakadu 2026, one of the Indo-Pacific region’s premier multilateral maritime exercises, scheduled to be held in Australia in March.

Orbe also confirmed that the Commander, Philippine Fleet, is set to participate in the Fleet Commanders’ Conference during Exercise Kakadu on 20 March 2026, in Sydney. The conference will bring together senior naval leaders to discuss maritime security challenges and cooperative strategies in the region.

During the meeting, the Philippine Navy expressed its appreciation for Australia’s continued support under the Australian Defence Force Cooperation Program, which provides training and professional development opportunities for Philippine Navy personnel. 

The PF also acknowledged the Royal Australian Navy’s contributions through Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activities (MMCA) and AFP–ADF Exercise IPE (ALON).

These initiatives include the deployment of Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Targets (EMATT), planned ship visits, and the conduct of maintenance and repair training by subject matter experts—efforts that have significantly enhanced interoperability, technical skills, and operational readiness between the two navies.

The bilateral talks underscored the enduring partnership between the Philippine Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, anchored on mutual trust, shared values, and a long-standing record of practical and results-driven cooperation in support of a stable and secure maritime region.