PN assault boats upgraded with Israeli Spike-ER missiles and RCWS

Isa Khan · Jun 1, 2022

The Philippines Navy (PN) demonstrated three newly upgraded assault boats, which are now equipped with Israeli Spike-ER missiles and a new remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS).

Three of its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Mk. Three were designed to accommodate Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.'s Typhoon MLS-ER missile launcher and Mini Typhoon RCWS, displayed during the Philippine Navy's 124th founding anniversary on 20 May 2022.

The new weapon systems were installed on the boats with the hull numbers BA-492, BA-493, and BA-494 more than two years after being inducted into service.

This brings the total number of missile-armed MPACs in service with the PN to six, serving with the 3rd and 4th Boat Attack Divisions.

The MPAC Mk.3 is a modified interdiction version of earlier MPAC designs originally designed as troop-carrying fast assault crafts for the Philippine Navy by Taiwanese shipbuilder Lung Teh Shipbuilding in collaboration with Filipino naval contractor Propmech Corporation.

The weapon systems upgrade was completed as part of the Philippine Navy's MPAC Combat Systems and Capability Upgrade contract, which included the supply of Spike-ER missiles, the Typhoon MLS-ER missile launcher, the Mini Typhoon RCWS, and other related equipment and services.