Philippines: Two FAIC-M Shaldag combat boats put into service

After two of the nine FAIC-M boats (fast attack interdiction craft - missile) of the Israeli Shaldag Mk. V type ordered from Israel Shipyards Ltd. in Haifa were received at the Commodore Divino Pier of the Philippine Naval Headquarters in Manila City in September and christened with the names of national Marine Corps heroes, these two boats were commissioned in mid-December and released to their deployment locations scattered throughout the islands of the Philippines.

Building programme

Christening and commissioning of the first two Shaldag Mk. V Fast Attack and Interdiction Craft (FAIC) at MHQ in Manila. Photo: Philippine Navy

Three more patrol boats of the 32 metre long "Acero" class are still expected to be delivered. The four remaining boats will be built at the navy's own shipyard at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, Cavite City in the bay opposite Manila, and equipped with the command/weapon deployment system provided by Rafael/Haifa, including short-range FK and remote-controlled, stabilised on-board cannon.

Range of tasks

Arrival of "Nestor Acero" at Western Mindanao Command. Photo: Philippine Navy

Even if it only seems like nine small drops in the ocean given the geographical size of the island nation, the regulatory gain for the Philippines from these boats is considerable! The arrival of the boats and the immediate transfer of the type boat PG901 "Nestor Acero" to the Western Mindanao Command Area on the southern island - with the Sulu Sea to the north and the Celebes Sea to the south - is already part of the proclaimed "minimum credible defence posture" that the country has set itself as a goal. Several straits and important SLOCs (sea lines of communication), which are often targeted by criminal gangs and terrorist groups, are located in this coastal area. The seaworthy and robust Shaldag boat type, which has been tried and tested for over 30 years, comes into its own for these tasks!