Philippine Navy could acquire 8 Israeli Shipyard Shaldag-class patrol boats.

According to news published on the POLITIKO website on January 16, 2020, the Philippine Navy (PN) could acquire eight Israeli Shipyard Ltd Shaldag-class patrol boats to replace the “PKMs” used for maritime interdiction operations.

Shaldag-class patrol boat (Picture source Israel Shipyards)

According to Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad of the Philippine Navy, the procurement project was already approved by President Rodrigo R. Duterte during a recent command conference. Four of the “Shaldag” patrol boats will be built in Israel while the remaining four will be constructed in the Philippines.

The PKM is a Chamsuri-class patrol vessel that entered in service with the Republic of Korea Navy in the 1970s and has since seen service with three other navies, of which the Philippine Navy is currently the largest import user. At least eight PKMs were transferred to the Philippines. The first five, PKM 225, 226, 229, 231, and 235, were transferred in 1995. Four were commissioned the following year, with one (ex-PKM 235) cannibalized for spare parts. Another unit was transferred in 1998. An additional two ships, PKM 223 and PKM 232, were acquired in 2006.

The PKM patrol vessel is armed with one Bofors 40 mm gun, 2 × Sea Vulcan 20mm Gatling guns and 2 × 12.7mm machine guns. It has a crew of 30 people, including a commanding officer, four officers and 20 sailors.

The Shaldag-class patrol boat is a small but fast class of patrol boats developed for the Israeli Navy and launched in 1989, it has since seen service with several other navies.

The Shaldag-Class fast patrol boats can be armed with a 23mm-25mm TYPHOON automatic gun, two 12.7mm or 7.62mm MINI-TYPHOON heavy machine guns, and other manually operated guns of similar configuration. It can also carry up to eight short-range anti-ship missiles to engage targets at sea or on the coastline.

The Shaldag-Class is powered by two independently operated MTU diesel engines of 16V2000 or 12V4000 type. The engines propel two MJP 550DD or 650DD water jets. It has a maximum speed of 45kt.

PKM patrol vessel of the Philippine Navy. (Picture source Wikimedia)