Philippines receives first 2 batteries of SPYDER-MR air defense missile system, 2nd C-295W aircraft

 

New SPYDER-MR air defense battery and C-195W transport aircraft for Philippine Air Force. Photo c/o Inquirer.net.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has formally accepted the first batch Surface-to-Air Python and Derby (SPYDER) air defense missile systems delivered by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

It also accepted the second C-295W medium tactical transport aircraft it ordered from Airbus Defence & Space.

The acquisition of the SPYDER missile system was made as part of the PAF’s Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) Acquisition Project, while the C-295W was acquired under the PAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft Acquisition Program. 

Both projects were programmed as part of the Horizon 2 phase of its modernization program from 2018 to 2022.

Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr led the turnover ceremonies held on 08 November 2022 at the PAF’s Base Air Base, with PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, and other top military and defense officials present, as well as Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.

The Philippines variant of the SPYDER-MR, called the SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System (SPADS), uses a different surveillance and fire control radar, and has 3 missile firing units per battery. 

Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines believes that the radar used could be a combination of IAI Elta’s EL/M-2138M Green Rock gallium nitride (GaN) 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array I(AESA) radars capable of use as a Counter Rocket Artillery Missile (C-RAM) radar and for air defense, and the EL/M- 2106 ATAR 3D soild-state air defense radar.

MaxDefense Philippines also noted that the SPADS uses the I-Derby-MR missile which uses a standard I-Derby medium range missile with a booster attachment to increase its range and improve launch speed from ground-based vertical launchers.

The PAF received two batteries, and is expecting another SPADS battery, probably by 2023. The SPADS are currently the Philippines’ most advanced air defense missile system to date and will be operated by the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group. 

Meanwhile, the second C-295W, which features winglets on the top of the wings that helps improve fuel efficiency, will be joining the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing which already operates 4 older C-295M and 1 other C-295W that was delivered earlier this year.

A third C-295W aircraft is expected to be delivered by Airbus soon, as it was already spotted in Spain undergoing ground tests.




[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] Philippine Defense Resource
[3] Philippine Daily Inquirer