The Philippine Navy Gets Two More Fast Attack Interdiction Craft-Missile Boats From Israel
The Philippine Navy bolsters its fleet as two brand-new Fast Attack Interdiction Craft-Missile (FAIC-M) platforms arrived in Manila earlier this week.
These vessels are two of nine FAIC-Ms that have been contracted with Israel Shipyards. They arrived aboard the cargo ship MV Mick, through BRP Mamanwa, last Tuesday, April 11. These acquisitions are part of the Horizon 2 List of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, signed back in 2019.
"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," Philippine Navy Spokesperson Capt. Benjo Negranza said in a statement.
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These boats were tested by personnel at a naval shipyard in Cavite, as well. The 32-meter-long FAIC-Ms will be joining BRP Nestor Acero and BRP Lolinato To-ong, which arrived late last year, in the Acero-class patrol gunboats this coming May.
Five more will reportedly be delivered to the Philippines within the next two years. Each comes with remote-stabilized weapons and short-range missiles. They have also been mounted with 30mm main cannons and .50 caliber heavy machine guns. We can expect that these vessels are capable of interdicting surface threats and launching non-line-of-sight missiles within a range of 25 kilometers.
Meanwhile, Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. added that the Navy looks to acquire 15 more Israel-made Shaldgad Mark V missile boats in the near future.
