PH Navy receives 2 more Israeli-made missile-mountable gunboats

Two Fast Attack Interdiction Craft platforms of the Philippine Navy are christened during a ceremony at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City in May 2023. These new patrol assets from Israel—BRP Gener Tinangag (PG 903) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG 905)—were named after Philippine Marines Corps heroes. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy received two additional Israeli-made gunboats designed to mount missiles.

The two Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC), to be designated with bow numbers PG908 and PG909, will be the seventh and the eighth fast boats under the Acero-class patrol vessels.

The FAICs arrived at Pier 15 of South Harbor, Manila on Sept. 17, Tuesday.

“The newly delivered platforms are designed for high-speed operations, featuring advanced missile systems and sophisticated onboard technology, which enhances the Philippine Navy’s capability to conduct rapid and effective maritime interdiction operations,” the Navy said in a statement on Monday.

The government acquired nine FAIC platforms from Israel, and only one remains under construction.

The 32-meter Acero-class patrol vessels are capable of delivering precision strikes, thanks to their remotely stabilized weapons and short-range missiles. These were named after the Medal of Valor awardees.

READ: 2 Navy gunboats named after fallen Medal of Valor awardees

To date the Navy has commissioned six FAICs, namely: BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901), BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG-902), BRP Gener Tinangag (PG-903), BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905), BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG906), and BRP Laurence Narag (PG907).

The Navy needs a dozen more FAICs to better protect the littorals, according to flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr.

Adaci also said the capability upgrades are in line with the government’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept which aims to protect the country’s national patrimony within its own exclusive economic zone.