Philippine Navy to receive first three Shaldag Mk V patrol boats in Q1 2022

The Philippine Navy (PN) is expecting to receive the first three of eight Shaldag Mk V fast patrol boats ordered from Israel Shipyards in the first quarter of 2022, the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) quoted PN Chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo as saying on 14 May.

The boats, which are meant to meet a PN requirement for missile-capable fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC-M), will be initially deployed in the ‘Mindanao area of responsibility’ where there are “continuous operations against LTGs [local terrorist groups] and CTGs [communist terrorist groups]”, said the vice admiral.

The 32.65 m-long vessels are “best suited operating in these environments to act as an effective deterrent not only against the terrorist groups but also against other lawless elements operating in the littoral areas”, he added.

The Philippine Navy expects to receive the first three of eight Shaldag Mk V patrol boats ordered from Israel Shipyards in the first quarter of 2022, according to PN chief Vice Adm Bacordo. (Israel Shipyards)

The statement came only two days after Israel Shipyards announced it had won a tender to supply Shaldag Mk Vs to the navy of an East Asian country. The company noted in a press release that the agreement includes a knowledge transfer and training regarding the construction and maintenance of the boats, as well an upgrade of the customer’s shipyard for this purpose.

Vice Adm Bacordo said that the project, which consists of two lots, is worth about PHP10 billion (USD209.4 million). Lot 1 is for acquisition of the naval platforms and the upgrade of Cavite Naval Shipyard, while Lot 2 is for the procurement of the onboard weapon systems, which includes remotely-controlled gun and missile systems, reported the PNA.