The Philippine Navy (PN) warships will soon be equipped with bigger and longer-range surface-to-surface missiles and sophisticated torpedoes, besides the recently delivered Spike-ER missiles from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel.
This was exposed Saturday by PN flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Roberto Empedrad as he included that the procurement of such weapons is required as maritime fighting has progressed toward becoming “missile-based”.
Empedrad likewise focused on that the PN can’t keep on relying on ships furnished with old combat hardware as it will positively be deserted and outgunned by its other counterparts.
“Naval warfare is becoming ‘missile-based’ and we cannot afford to be left out and we cannot afford to just use an old capability (guns) mounted on our old ships. We have to grow as a Navy,” the PN chief noted.
According to Empedrad, the obtaining of the Spike-ER missiles, which is currently being installed at three multi-purpose attack crafts (MPACs), is just the start.
The Philippine Navy has nine MPACs in inventory with another three units planned to acquire and while this is going on they are likewise examining the doctrine on to how useful and where to send these three missile-armed MPACs, Empedrad added. – by JCE / Source: PNA
