Exclusive: Philippine Navy Frigate BRP Miguel Malvar Gains Anti-Ship Power with Wildcat Helicopter Armed with Spike Missile.

According to a photo release published on May 25, 2025, on the official Facebook page of Cong. Arnan C. Panaligan, a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing the 1st District of Oriental Mindoro, the Philippine Navy has deployed an AgustaWestland AW159 Mk220 Wildcat anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter equipped with a box launcher for the Israeli-made Rafael Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile aboard the guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06).
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An AW159 Wildcat helicopter armed with a Spike NLOS missile is seen aboard the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), demonstrating the ship’s enhanced anti-ship strike capability. Photo source: Facebook page of Cong. Arnan C. Panaligan.

This marks a significant milestone in the country’s maritime defense modernization efforts, particularly in enhancing Philippine Navy aviation strike capabilities through long-range precision-guided anti-ship weapon systems.

The AW159 Wildcat, developed by Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland), is a modern, multi-role maritime helicopter designed for a wide range of naval operations. It is an advanced evolution of the Westland Lynx and serves in both the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and export customers such as South Korea and the Philippines. In naval service, the AW159 performs missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), over-the-horizon targeting, search and rescue (SAR), maritime surveillance, and vertical replenishment. Equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, active dipping sonar, radar, and electro-optical systems, the Wildcat offers high survivability, interoperability, and mission flexibility in complex maritime environments. Its compact size and folding rotors allow easy deployment aboard frigates and other warships with limited deck space, such as the BRP Miguel Malvar.

Originally optimized for submarine detection and prosecution, the AW159 can also be outfitted with surface-attack weaponry such as lightweight torpedoes, depth charges, and air-launched anti-ship missiles. The integration of the Rafael Spike NLOS missile system adds a powerful long-range strike capability, transforming the Wildcat into a potent anti-ship platform. This configuration allows it to operate as a force multiplier for Philippine Navy task groups, capable of identifying and neutralizing enemy vessels from stand-off ranges without exposing the host ship to direct combat.

The Rafael Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile is part of the Israeli defense manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' renowned Spike missile family. It is a precision-guided, fire-and-forget and observe-and-update weapon system designed to strike targets hidden by terrain or located beyond direct line of sight. Capable of engaging targets at distances of up to 32 kilometers depending on the launcher platform, the Spike NLOS is equipped with a dual electro-optical and infrared seeker, allowing it to identify, track, and strike moving and static targets with pinpoint accuracy. The missile can be guided in real-time via a secure two-way datalink, enabling operators to correct its course mid-flight or abort the mission if necessary.

The Spike NLOS is versatile and has been integrated on a variety of platforms including ground vehicles, naval vessels, and helicopters. Its use aboard the AW159 Wildcat significantly enhances the helicopter’s capability to engage enemy surface combatants, speedboats, coastal defenses, and even land-based armored targets or fortifications. When employed in a maritime role, the Spike NLOS enables over-the-horizon engagements, allowing Philippine Navy warships to keep a safe distance while projecting lethal force with high precision.

The BRP Miguel Malvar, formerly a Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigate, was officially commissioned into service with the Philippine Navy on May 20, 2025, during a ceremony held at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales, coinciding with the Philippine Navy's 127th founding anniversary. The ship has been undergoing a series of capability enhancements to act as a central platform for naval air operations. The deployment of a Spike NLOS-capable Wildcat onboard adds a new layer of lethality to the vessel’s profile. When operating jointly, the ship and helicopter team can cover vast sea zones and engage threats with a multi-domain approach, using onboard radar to cue the helicopter’s missile system. This capability aligns with doctrines of distributed lethality and over-the-horizon targeting, key elements in modern naval warfare, especially in contested maritime zones such as the West Philippine Sea.

The deployment of this helicopter-missile combination underscores the Philippine Navy’s effort to bolster deterrence and operational flexibility in littoral and open-sea environments. As tensions rise in regional waters, the ability to project power using fast-reaction airborne platforms with precision munitions gives the Philippines a significant asymmetric advantage. Additionally, the Spike NLOS system’s proven combat record and adaptability to various platforms make it a versatile choice for the Philippine Navy’s expanding missile force. This move reflects deeper integration with modern naval doctrine and highlights the role of aerial platforms as essential force multipliers.

The confirmed deployment of the AW159 Wildcat with a Spike NLOS missile launcher aboard BRP Miguel Malvar signals the Philippine Navy’s increasing proficiency in deploying high-end maritime strike systems. It demonstrates the service’s commitment to embracing technological advances and enhancing its defensive posture in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime regions.