Philippines gets additional Fast-Attack Interdiction Ships from Israel
The Philippine Navy has taken delivery of two more fast attack interdiction-missile (FAIC-M) vessels from Israel Shipyards.
The delivery is part of the country’s Horizon 2 military modernization program launched in 2019 under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Benjo Negranza, the boats were loaded into the general cargo ship M/V Mick and delivered to a naval shipyard in the central Philippines for a series of tests and crew training.
A total of nine FAIC-M vessels will comprise the fleet, with the first two already delivered and christened last year.
The two additional ships will first be christened in May before joining the Acero-class patrol gunboats.
The five remaining boats are expected to be delivered within the next two years.
Bolstering Maritime Security
The boats recently delivered to Manila are part of the Shaldag Class, a combat-proven fast vessel designed for naval security missions.
With a length of 32 meters (104 feet), the high-speed ships are equipped with short-range missiles that deliver precision strikes against high-value targets on land and at sea.
According to the Philippine Navy, four of the FAIC-Ms will be fitted with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missiles with a maximum range of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), while five of them will be armed with Typhoon-mounted 30mm main cannons.
“They are a welcome addition to the Navy’s capability to secure vital choke points, key sea lines of communication, and littoral areas of the country,” Negranza expressed.
