The Philippine Navy has launched the domestically assembled fast attack interdiction craft-missile (FAIC-M) BRP Albert Majini (PG-909) at the Naval Shipyard in Cavite City on 12 November, the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
Six of nine FAIC-M vessels on order from Israeli Shipyards Limited – based on the company’s Shaldag Mk V design – are already in service with the Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force.
This milestone represents our progress in strengthening national security and our commitment to advancing the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program, particularly in shipbuilding,” navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr told PNA.
“This effort not only empowers our armed forces but also boosts our industries to further innovation and strengthen our maritime nation,” added Vice Admiral Adaci, highlighting the transfer of technology aimed at enhancing domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
Israeli Shipyards earlier announced in mid-2021 that it had signed a contract with a then-undisclosed customer, now identified to be the Philippines, to supply Shaldag Mk V crafts along with technology transfer and instruction in the build and maintenance of the vessels, as well an upgrade of the customer’s shipyard for this purpose.
The first two vessels were commissioned into service with the Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force as Acero-class patrol gunboats in November 2022.
The Shaldag Mk V is an all-aluminium patrol craft with a full-load displacement of 95 tonnes and a draught of 1.25 m. The vessel is operated by a 10-person crew complement and can travel at a maximum stated speed of about 40 kt out to a range of 1,000 n miles at 12 kt. It can be armed with naval guns and missile launchers.
The company earlier signed an agreement with the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Philippine Department of Defense to address the Philippine Navy requirement for FAIC-M crafts, with the DND earlier issuing a notice of award (NOA) to Israel Shipyards for eight missile-capable FAIC-M platforms in early 2021.
Valued at approximately US$128 million, the NOA also included upgrade works to the Philippine Navy’s facilities, although it did not disclose the type of vessel that will be supplied by the shipyard. A separate NOA worth around US$79 million had also been issued to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for weapon systems to arm the new vessels.
by Jr Ng
