Two more Israeli-made fast attack defense boats are joining the Philippine Navy

The Philippines have receive two more Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) from the contractor Israeli Shipyards.

Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Giovanni Badidles said the two modern naval vessels were delivered at Pier 15 of Manila South Port on September 17 and are designated among the Acero-class patrol vessels with bow numbers PG-908 and PG-909.

Once commissioned, the Philippine Navy (PN) will have eight such ships in its inventory.

A total of nine ships are part of the dealDelivery of the last copy is planned for this year or 2025.

“Similar to their predecessors, the newly delivered platforms are designed for high-speed operations and feature advanced missile systems and sophisticated onboard technology, enhancing the PN’s ability to conduct rapid and effective maritime interdiction operations,” Badidles said.

This latest delivery is part of the PN’s ongoing modernization and is in line with the country’s modernization Independent defensive posture Program that allows importing requirements that cannot be produced locally.

Fast attack interdiction ship

The FAIC ships are based about Israel Shipyards’ Shaldag V design.

Each can reach a top speed of 40 knots (46 miles/74 kilometers per hour) and has a range of 1,900 kilometers (1,180 miles) at 17 knots (19.5 miles/28 kilometers per hour).

They are equipped with pinpoint accuracy, no-line-of-sight Spike missiles and a range of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), complementing the PN’s two current ships with the same armament.

Meanwhile, the other current four and one incoming Marine FAIC are armed with Typhoon-mounted 30mm main guns and .50 caliber heavy machine guns.

The acquisition of the FAICs, worth around 10 billion pesos (US$180 million), was part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Horizon 2 modernization program and was approved by the former Philippine president in 2019 Rodrigo Duterte.