Philippines receives its first two Shaldag craft from Israel
The Philippine Navy has received its first two Shaldag MK V fast attack boats from Israel. (PNA)
The first pair of Shaldag MK V fast attack craft for the Philippine Navy (PN) has arrived in Manila aboard a cargo ship that departed from Haifa, Israel, in late August.
The 95t vessels are named BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG-902). They were formally christened at the navy’s headquarters in Manila on 6 September, and will undergo a technical inspection and acceptance process.
These two 32.7m-long vessels had been launched on 26 June.
Manila has nine of these fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC-M) on order from Israel Shipyards, though four will be assembled in the Philippines
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base
Extending far beyond a four-submarine replacement programme, France’s ballistic missile submarine effort is a decades-long industrial initiative designed to preserve the country’s ability to build and sustain nuclear-powered strategic platforms.
-
China’s mineral processing dominance exposes naval supply chain vulnerabilities
Competition for critical minerals, and China’s dominance of their processing, is emerging as a decisive factor in future naval procurement programmes.
-
Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition
Australia’s mine countermeasure capability remains in flux as the Huon-class nears retirement, but accelerated investment in autonomous systems is opening a path for industry.
-
Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?
As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.