Philippine Navy Programmed to Have 30 Missile-Armed Ships: Navy Chief

11 Maret 2019

MPAC with missile system (photo : pdff)

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad revealed that the service is programmed to have 30 missile-armed ships. Currently the Philippine Navy has three Multi-purpose Assault Crafts (MPACs) armed with missile system acquired from Israel.

“We have MPAC equipped with missile system. Each MPAC costs P270 million, iba naman ang presyo ng missiles. We have three with missile system but in the future, magkakaron tayo ng 30 more ships with missile systems so that if we are invaded by another country, we can protect our maritime nation by using our system,” said Empedrad as quoted by Inquirer during his visit to Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Zamboanga City.

“It is dedicated for external defense, kung gamitin natin for Abu Sayyaf, lugi tayo, pero meron syang 50 caliber na automated that even in the high seas with big waves, the automated guns can wipe enemy’s craft to as far as 2 kilometers away. We have already tested these weapons,” he noted.

He said the missile-armed MPACs are currently in Manila. “We are preparing for a support system. The Navy is looking for a safe place where we can park these vessels. We cannot easily dock it at any pier, baka mamaya, pasukan ng kalaban makuha ang mga missiles, we have to build a infrastructure that can accommodate it, where we can safely hide it,” he said.

“We have protocol. We came up with doctrines as to who will fire the missile – sino yung puputok ng missile. Once they are assigned in a unified command, it is the unified commanders who will make the decision to fire the missiles,” he added.

(Mintfo)