The Philippine Navy on Sunday said it was in talks with the United States government to buy a secondhand coastguard cutter to upgrade its ageing fleet.
Navy chief Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said the 380-feet (115 metre) Hamilton class vessel, which he did not name, would significantly boost Manila's capability to patrol its archipelago.
"We are actively discussing with the US government the possible acquisition of the Hamilton class," he said.
"We need this to boost security in our exclusive economic zone."
Pama said the Hamilton class cutters are the biggest vessels used by the US coastguard, with the exception of heavy ice breakers.
The vessel was expected to arrive in Manila in the first half of the year, replacing the navy's flagship BRP Raja Humabon, a Cannon-class destroyer escort which is probably one of the world's oldest war ships, the Filipino navy said.
Equipped with a retractable hangar, a helicopter flight deck and powered by a dual engine or gas turbines, the Hamilton cutter is described as a high endurance cutter with close-in weapons systems.
