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Philippine Army Highlights Performance of its Spyder System during a Joint Air and Missile defense exercise with US.
On April 27, 2025, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces conducted a joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) training at the Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command (NETDC) in Zambales, as part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025. The event highlighted the operational use of the Philippine Air Force’s Spyder air defense system, contributing to the coordinated response capabilities of both nations against regional aerial threats.
In the Philippines, the Air Force acquired three SPYDER-MR batteries as part of a strategic air defense modernization effort (Picture source: Philippine Army)
During the training, Filipino and American personnel collaborated to detect, track, and engage aerial targets, relying in particular on the Spyder system, now a central asset of Philippine ground-based air defense, alongside other allied defense platforms. Designed to provide mobile and responsive protection, the Spyder system is capable of intercepting aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles, reinforcing airspace security in strategically sensitive areas.
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with support from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the SPYDER (Surface-to-Air Python and Derby) is a mobile air defense system designed to protect both static sites and maneuvering forces. Equipped with Python-5 infrared-guided missiles and Derby active radar-guided missiles, the system offers modularity, rapid engagement capabilities, and multi-target tracking under all-weather conditions. Available in SPYDER-SR and SPYDER-MR versions, it provides interception ranges of up to 40 and 80 kilometers respectively, with interception speeds reaching Mach 4.
Mounted on heavy-duty trucks such as Tatra, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Scania, or Dongfeng platforms, the Spyder uses the EL/M-2106 ATAR radar for the SR variant and the EL/M-2084 MMR radar for the MR variant—the same radar employed by Israel’s Iron Dome system. This radar-missile combination enables extended surveillance and rapid reaction to a broad spectrum of aerial threats.
In the Philippines, the Air Force acquired three SPYDER-MR batteries as part of its strategic air defense modernization program, aimed at enhancing national security capabilities in a volatile regional environment. Two batteries, designated as the SPYDER Philippine Air Defense System (SPADS), were formally integrated into the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group in November 2022, with the third battery delivered in November 2024. The launchers, mounted on Tatra T815-7 high-mobility trucks, provide rapid deployment flexibility to protect critical infrastructure against threats such as armed drones, tactical aircraft, and low-flying missiles.
The Philippine deployment of the SPYDER-MR system during Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 reflects its expanding role in national defense architecture. During the drill, the Spyder systems were fully integrated into a joint operational framework, enabling the detection, tracking, and engagement of aerial threats in close coordination with US forces. This capability has become increasingly critical as regional security dynamics evolve, with the Philippines seeking to bolster its deterrence posture in response to maritime disputes and heightened military activities in the South China Sea.
Alongside the deployment of Spyder, US forces showcased several counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) technologies. Designed to detect and neutralize aerial intrusions, these systems were incorporated into the broader air defense setup to reinforce the protection of Philippine and American units. The exercise also included the deployment of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) by the US Marine Corps, specifically configured to intercept drones, helicopters, and low-altitude aircraft.
At the operations fusion center, Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. observed the combined implementation of air defense capabilities, facilitated by enhanced communications and greater integration of defense systems, including the Spyder. This technical and tactical demonstration underscored the operational progress achieved during the exercise.
Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 continues to strengthen interoperability and operational readiness between allied forces, building a coordinated and robust response framework to address emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The operational integration of the Spyder system within this setting reflects the Philippines’ commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities and to reinforcing a cooperative regional security architecture amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.