TWO Philippine Navy frigates have received much-needed upgrades, considered a milestone in the country's efforts to modernize its defense capabilities amid the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea, a source privy to the information told The Manila Times on Saturday.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Naval Group, a major French industrial company specializing in naval defense design, development and construction, which said that it had equipped two Jose Rizal-class frigates of the Philippine Navy with its Contralto anti-torpedo reaction module.