THE Philippine Navy wants to acquire 15 fast-attack interdiction craft-missiles (FAIC-Ms) in addition to nine similar vessels, worth P10 billion, being delivered by an Israeli shipbuilder.
Navy chief Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr disclosed this yesterday after commissioning BRP Nestor Acero and BRP Lolinato To-ong at the Navy headquarters in Manila.
The two Acero-class vessels, built by Israel Shipyards Ltd, were part of the nine FAIC-Ms ordered by the defense department, under the AFP modernization program, for P10 billion.
The two were delivered in September and were commissioned yesterday during rites graced by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. The seven others are due for delivery next year and the following year.
“We plan to get 15 additional Acero-class boats on top of these nine boats… is a proposal from us that would meet our requirement for patrolling the seas of our country,” said Adaci.
“We are proposing to get 15 additional Shaldag Mark V type of vessels, these types of vessels in the future,” he added.
Adaci, who assumed the top Navy post on Thursday last week, said the two FAIC-Ms are intended to enhance the Navy’s capability “in addressing threats within this complex and unique archipelagic condition in a precise and swift manner.”
He said the two vessels have “accurate, high-performance, and quick-intercept capabilities that are adequate for addressing current and emerging security threats.”
Adaci said the FAIC-Ms are capable of hitting a target as far as 32 kilometers.
“It (missiles of the vessels) can be fired indirectly so it’s a non-line-of-sight capable system. Even if the target is on the other side of the mountain, you can still hit the target as long as the target acquisition is accurate,” said Adaci.
The two FAIC-Ms were named after Private First Class Nestor Acerto and 1Lt. Lolinato To-ong, both deceased Marines and recipients of the Medal of Valor, the highest military decoration in combat.
Adaci urged personnel of the two vessels “to always commit to what you have sworn to do, to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In his address, Bersamin said he was honored to be taking part in the “significant occasion” of commissioning the two vessels.
“Today is a great day because we have the most modern and capable patrol gunboats in our Philippine Navy,” he said.
“These boats are our fastest and most advanced gunboats capable of operating in the littorals and can be deployed very quickly in their designated areas of operation specially in our sea lanes of communications,” he added.
