Philippine Navy to commission 2 more missile-mountable gunboats

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy will commission two additional Israeli-made gunboats designed to mount missiles in March, according to its spokesperson.

“The Philippine Navy is scheduled to commission two more fast attack interdiction craft missiles this coming March,” said Navy Spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos in a regular briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

Capable of delivering precision strikes thanks to its remote stabilized weapons and short-range missiles, the 32-meter long FAIC platforms are still in the East Commodore Posadas Wharf in Cavite City for mandatory enhancement and maintenance.

Alcos said the acquisition of FAICs “is geared towards further developing the Navy’s capability to support the range of missions that different unified commands are mandated to undertake.”

The Navy’s fifth and sixth gunboats are expected to be commissioned under hull numbers PG906 and PG907, joining the other four which are under the Philippine Fleet’s Littoral Combat Force.

The Acero-class patrol vessels were also named under Medal of Valor awardees, and the newest patrol vessels could also follow the pattern of being named after the recipients of the highest military honor.

In total, the government acquired nine FAIC platforms from Israel, with the remaining three still being manufactured.