The BRP Miguel Malvar, the newest and most advanced guided-missile frigate of the Philippine Navy (PN), will participate in a “historic first naval exercise.”

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez said the PN had deployed one of their Malvar-class guided missile frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), to participate “for the first time” in the ongoing 3rd International Fleet Review (IFR26), hosted by the Indian Navy, as well as the Multilateral Naval Exercise (MILAN) 2026, which is joined by more than 20 countries, including the United States.

Martinez said the IFR26 serves as a platform for participating navies to exchange views and strengthen cooperation in support of peace, stability, and development in the Indo-Pacific region, while MILAN 2026 aims to enhance interoperability and operational coordination among participating navies.

“Your Philippine Navy — because of its Vision 2040, which is to be a modern and multi-domain, self-reliant naval force, and a credible partner in the region — has several initiatives in order to not only develop its platforms for warfare, but also to be involved in the conduct of exercises and maritime cooperative activities. And one of these is, of course, the exercise in India,” Martinez said.