Philippines taps Israel to supply Shaldag Mk. V fast attack crafts
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| The Shaldag Mk. V fast attack craft. Photo c/o Israel Shipyards. |
The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has released notices of award for the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft project of the Philippine Navy (PN) to two Israeli companies, involving the acquisition of the Shaldag Mk. V fast attack craft.
The project’s Lot 1 worth Php6.161 billion (US$127.9 million) was awarded to Israel Shipyards Ltd. to supply 9 Shaldag Mk. V fast attack crafts for the PN.
The deal also includes for Israel Shipyards assisting in upgrading the PN’s naval shipyard to prepare it to have the capacity for the construction of boats and small ships and improve existing naval assets.
Another award covering the project’s Lot 2, was awarded to Rafael Advanced Systems Ltd. with a value of Php3.82 billion (US$79.38 million), for the supply of the Typhoon medium calibre and Mini Typhoon small calibre remote control weapon stations (RCWS), Typhoon MLS missile launchers, and Spike NLOS surface-to-surface missiles.
The Shaldag Mk. V has a length of 32.7 meters, a beam of 6.2 meters, displaces at around 95 tons, and is powered by diesel engines capable of providing a maximum speed of above 40 knots, and a range of 1,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.
The Fast Attack Interdicition Craft project was first raised in early 2019 with a budget of Php10 billion, which will replace the service’s existing Tomas Batilo-class fast attack crafts. But the project’s implementation was delayed by a year due to COVID 19 pandemic issues.
These Tomas Batilo-class are former Chamsuri-class FACs transferred from South Korea and have been in service since the late 1970s with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), before entering service with the PN in the early 1990s.
The PN now only operates two Tomas Batilo-class FACs with the Littoral Combat Force, with six other retired over the years and used as spare parts hulk for the remaining units.
[1] Philippines Department of National Defense
[3] Philippine Defense Resource
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
February 01, 2021
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