Philippines has selected Israeli SPYDER as new air defense missile system.

According to the Blog Mintfo, Philippines has selected the SPYDER from Israel as new ground based air defense systems (GBDAS) for its armed forces. The SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an Israeli-made short and medium range mobile air defence system developed by the Company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the collaboration of IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries).

Rafael Spyder MR medium-range air defense missile system at Paris Show, June 2013. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The SPYDER (Surface-To-Air Python & DERBY) is a quick reaction, low level surface-to-air missile system designed to counter attacks by aircraft, helicopters UAVs and precision guided munitions. The system provides effective protection of valuable assets, as well as first-class defense for forces located in the combat area.

SPYDER incorporates RAFAEL's most advanced, proven performance air-to-air missiles - the Derby active radar (RF) missile and Python-5, a dual waveband Imaging Infra Red (IIR) missile. The SPYDER family includes SPYDER-SR (Short Range) and SPYDER-MR (Medium Range) systems.

The SPYDER's truck-mounted Missile Firing Units (MFU) are equipped with both IIR and RF missiles. The MFU carries any combination (IIR/RF) of missiles on a rotatable launcher assembly. The system's high mobility allows quick deployment and operational agility. SPYDER has 360° day/night all-weather engagement capability. The system can also engage multiple threats simultaneously. It has Lock-On-Before Launch (LOBL) and Lock-On-After Launch (LOAL) modes of operation. SPYDER’s intercept envelope spans from less than 1km to 15 km against targets flying at altitudes between 20 m and 9,000 m.

The SPYDER-SR (Short-Range) is a combat-proven, quick reaction, low level surface-to-air missile system designed to effectively counter attacks by aircraft, helicopters UAVs stand-off weapons and precision guided munitions. The SPYDER-SR provides excellent protection of valuable assets, as well as first-class defense for forces located in the combat area.

The SPYDER-MR Medium Range Air Defense Missile System (MRADMS) shares SPYDER-SR’s cutting-edge technology. The SPYDER-MR engages and destroys the same wide spectrum of threats at medium ranges. SPYDER-MR protects high-value assets (capital areas, air force bases, etc.) as well as maneuvering combat forces.