The modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
continues…though it’s a little bit slow, nevertheless its being done.
After years of waiting and wanting
our armed forces to be modernized, the Philippine Navy (PN)in particular will be having
something to look forward to. Santa Claus seems to have packed his gifts for
the PN.
After the pre-delivery inspection
has been done, A Philippine Airforce plane will fly form the Philippines to
Israel to transport the missiles to the Philippines, all expenses paid by the
proponent, said Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado – Philippine Navy
Flag-officer-in-command.
The PN confirms that the Rafael
Advanced Defense Systems Ltd's Spike ER (extended range) missile systems on its
three Multi-purpose Attack Craft MPACs is due for delivery and mounting in the
Philippines.
The weapons are on anti-ship mode or
can engage surface vessel targets. It is capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39
inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a maximum range of five miles.
The three is a 17 meter
multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) into the 3rd Boat Attack Division of the
Littoral Combat Force (LCF). The vessels, which will bear the hull numbers
BA-488, BA-489, and BA-491, which are newer Mark III models, are more advanced
than the six Mark I and Mark IIs currently in the inventory.
The new MPACs, which were
constructed by Subic Bay-based Propmech Corporation, will be armed with
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd’s Spike ER in anti-ship mode,
Philippine navy officials said last May when it handed over and commissioned at
Sangley Point in Cavite City.(Diplomat.com)
Contract for the three ships are worth PHP270 million which
was sourced from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act Trust
Fund of 2000.
The contract includes mission essential equipment which
includes day/night electronic navigation systems, communication suites,
safety-of-life-at-sea, propulsion system and seamanship and ship-handling
gears.
report
from PNA
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