Philippine Navy expands Fleet with delivery of two Israeli-made missile boats.

According to information published by the Philippine News Agency on September 23, 2024, the PN (Philippine Navy has taken delivery of two additional fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) from Israeli Shipyards Ltd. These vessels, also known as Acero-class patrol boats, arrived at Manila South Harbor’s Pier 15 on September 17.
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Israeli made Acero-class patrol gunboat BRP Herminigildo Yurong. (Picture source: Philippine MoD)

Designated with bow numbers PG-908 and PG-909, the new FAICs increase the number of Acero-class boats in the Philippine Navy’s fleet to eight, with one final unit still to be delivered. Once commissioned, these vessels are expected to enhance the Navy's operational capacity, particularly in high-speed interdiction and missile strike capabilities.

Earlier this year, the PN commissioned two FAICs equipped with Spike NLOS (non-line of sight) missiles, the BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG-906) and BRP Laurence Narag (PG-907). These ships are part of a broader fleet acquisition that began in 2022.

Of the nine Acero-class vessels being procured, four will be equipped with missile systems capable of targeting up to 25 kilometers, while the remaining five will be fitted with Typhoon-mounted 30mm cannons and .50 caliber heavy machine guns.

Philippines-Israel relations

Israel has become an important partner for the Philippines by supplying advanced defense technologies, such as drones, air defense systems, modern light tanks, and patrol boats. This is particularly relevant as the Philippines faces security challenges in the South China Sea. Israel’s contribution goes beyond supplying hardware; the partnership includes knowledge transfer, like training Filipino technicians and establishing local infrastructure for maintaining Israeli-provided equipment.

This defense cooperation is part of the broader Horizon 3 program (2023–2028), the latest phase in the modernization initiative. Previous phases (Horizon 1 and 2) saw the acquisition of key assets like frigates, aircraft, and artillery systems, with Israeli defense firms playing a major role. The Israeli government and private companies are eager to expand their role in Horizon 3, providing technologies suited to the Philippines' growing defense needs, such as cyber defense systems, where Israel is a global leader.