Israeli Firm Completes Upgrades to Philippine Naval Shipyard

The Philippine Navy (PN)’s capability to build its own warships, particularly the small, fast-attack interdictor craft missile (FAIC-M), got a boost after Israel Shipyards Ltd transferred the documents and keys of a newly-refurbished shipyard to the Navy’s possession recently.

Navy spokesperson Capt Benjo Negranza, in a March 1 statement said the upgraded shipyard is located at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City.

According to the report by Philippine News Agency, the turnover was presided over by Naval Sea Systems Command head Commodore Mac Raul Racacho.

Negranza said the documents and keys were transferred by Israel Shipyards Ltd marketing director Noam Katsav as part of the FAIC-M acquisition project. They were received by the head of the PN’s naval shipyard for initial operation and sustainment, Navy Capt Nestor Galindo.

The Navy’s FAIC-Ms are also known as the Acero-class patrol boats.

The acquisition of these FAIC-Ms is among the 2019 projects approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte under the Horizon 2 List of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernisation Program. Nine units of Shaldag Mk V were ordered in a contract signed on Feb 9, 2021 under the Navy’s FAIC-M Acquisition Project.

Earlier, PN chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr said the Navy is planning to acquire at least 15 more Israel-made Shaldag Mark V missile boats, which are the basis of its Acero-class patrol gunboats.

He said the additional Acero-class gunboats would help them to meet their requirements in “patrolling the seas of the country.” –pna/adj/mhi (pix: Philippine News Agency)