Philippines to acquire new missiles from Israel

Screen grab from video provided by the Naval Public Affairs Office shows a Navy gunboat firing an Israeli-made Spike Extended Range missile and hitting a target during a test-fire drill off Limay, Bataan on Aug. 9, 2018.
The STAR, File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed that the Philippines will acquire more missiles from Israel.

The Department of National Defense will be purchasing a Surface-to-air Python and Derby (SPYDER) mobile-air defense system from Israeli defense technology firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, according to a report from state-run Philippines News Agency.

Lorenzana, however, said that he does not yet know the exact number of missile launchers that the government will be acquiring.

Last year, the Philippine Navy also acquired Israeli-made Spike ER (Extended Range) surface-to-surface missiles, which were installed on its multi-purpose attack craft.

The Navy tested the effectiveness of the missiles in a naval drill off Limay, Bataan in August 2018.

The Israeli-Er missile system installed on the navy's gunboat accurately neutralized its target from a distance of six kilometers. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

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