PH Navy now capable of engaging 'surface targets'

MANILA— With the successful test-firing of its Rafael Advanced Defense Ltd. Spike-ER (extended range) surface-to-surface missile off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan last Aug. 9, the Philippine Navy (PN) now is capable of engaging and destroying targets such as ships, or “surface targets” in naval parlance.

“This provides the Navy a significant capability against surface targets. This is also a milestone as your Navy prepares to acquire more sophisticated and powerful missile and weapons system,” Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said Sunday.

The Spike-ER was fired from one of the PN’s three Spike-ER armed multi-purpose assault craft (MPACs) and successfully hit a floating target six kilometers away.

The above-mentioned MPACs were constructed by the Subic-based Propmech Corporation and activated on May 22, 2017.

The PN MPAC Acquisition Project entered into a contract with Rafael, through SIBAT of Israel Ministry of Defense, for the supply and integration of the above-mentioned weapons systems to three Mark III MPACs.

Philippine Navy nears milestone at world’s biggest naval drill

On April 15, 2017, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana approved the Notice to Proceed.

The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the country last April, is the PN’s first missile weapon capable penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and having a range of eight kilometers. (PNA)