Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 9 August that it has secured a new contract with an undisclosed Asian country to provide comprehensive maintenance support services for operational systems employed by its navy.
According to Rafael, the multi-year agreement is estimated to be worth around US$30 million and will cover maintenance services for the navy’s Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon remote control weapon stations (RCWS), naval Spike ER and Spike NLOS missile systems, electro-optical surveillance systems, and electronic warfare Integrated Decoy Systems (IDS).
“Rafael, as a developer and manufacturer of combat-proven naval systems, has developed extensive knowhow and accumulated experience in executing major naval projects with clients in Israel and worldwide,” said Ran Tavor, Vice President and Head of the company’s Naval Warfare Systems directorate.
“Through this latest project the knowhow shared between Rafael and its partners will continue to be enriched and will contribute to more optimized and greater capabilities down the road,” added Tavor.
Rafael did not reveal the identity of the customer, but the company earlier announced in September 2021 that it secured a US$80 million contract to supply a “comprehensive naval warfare systems suite” for Shaldag Mk V fast patrol boats built by Israel Shipyards.
The company had also stated that the package comprises a combat management system (CMS), Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon RCWS, Spike NLOS missile systems, Sea-Com shipborne communication system, BNET tactical data link, as well as other components.
It is believed that the package was used to equip eight Shaldag Mk Vs ordered earlier in 2021 by the Philippine Navy, with first delivery of three vessels by early 2022.
The Philippine Navy has a stated requirement for missile-capable fast attack interdiction craft and the government has earmarked up to US$200 million to acquire new vessels and upgrade Cavite Naval Shipyard. It is understood that four boats will be armed with the Spike NLOS missile system, while the remainder would be armed with light cannons and machine guns.
by Jr Ng
