Israeli Defense Attaché Inspects Future Shipbuilding Site of PHL’s Interdiction Crafts

16 September 2021

Visiting of Israeli Defense Attache (photo : PN)

The Philippine Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NSSC) has reported that Israel’s Defense Attaché to the Philippines Raz Shabtay visited the site intended for the construction of the Fast Attack Interdiction Craft Missile (FAIC-M) at the Naval Shipbuilding Center on September 1.

“A project conceived to revive the shipbuilding capability and maintain control on littoral waters, the FAIC-M Acquisition Project covers the in-country construction of two ships, along with the training of seventeen (17) NSSC personnel, and the upgrade of the Naval Shipbuilding Center equipment and facility necessary to establish local production capability,” the NSSC said.

“Earlier this year, a kickoff meeting was held in connection with the construction of the first two ships in Israel, while the training of the NSSC personnel is projected to start this December,” it added.

The FAIC-M acquisition project involves the acquisition of eight units FAIC-M, the Philippine Navy said.

“Duly awarded to Israel Shipyards Ltd. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel under a Government-to-Government procurement scheme, the project is divided into two lots,” the Philippine Navy said.

“Lot 1 covers the delivery of nine platforms, four of which will be missile-capable, and the upgrading of the Naval Shipyard (NSY) for the establishment of a local production line as part of the Transfer of Technology (ToT). On the other hand, Lot 2 includes the integration of weapons and combat systems,” the Navy added.

(Mintfo)