Philippines puts first two Acero-class fast interdiction crafts into service

The two Acero-class interdiction crafts during Christening ceremonies. Photo c/o Philippine Navy.

 

The Philippine Navy has formally brought into service the first two Acero-class fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC).

The ceremonies were held at the Philippine Navy’s headquarters in Manila on 06 September 2022, with the ships identified as BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG-902), both named after Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were Medal of Valor awardees 

The Acero-class boats were built by Israel Shipyards in their facility in Haifa, Israel using the Shaldag Mk. V fast patrol boat design.

Both crafts were launched on 26 June 2022. They were reported to be heading for the Philippines aboard a commercial cargo vessel as of August 2022.

These were acquired under a PHP10 billion (US$200 million) deal signed between the Philippines Department of National Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Defense in early 2021 under the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft with Missiles Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy.

7 more boats are to be delivered to the Philippine Navy, including at least two boats that will be built locally by the Philippine Navy’s Naval Yard under a transfer of technology agreement.

As part of a separate contract, the boats are to be armed with Rafael’s Typhoon and Mini Typhoon remote controlled weapon systems (RCWS), with four of the boats to be also equipped with the Rafael MLS-NLOS missile launcher for the Spike-NLOS surface-to-surface missile.

The Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force will operate the Acero-class FAICs, and will replace the retired Tomas Batillo-class patrol gunboats, which were formerly with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and donated to the Philippines in the 1990s.

[1] Philippine News Agency

[2] Manila Times

[3] Philippine Defense Resource