Navy eyes deployment of missile-firing ships

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is eyeing to deploy its first ever missile-firing multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) to the north of Palawan and other strategic maritime areas of the country.

At least three brand-new locally manufactured and commissioned MPACs are undergoing missile integration and are all expected to be fully operational in two to three months, Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said.

“We are still studying where to deploy our (MPACs) – probably West of Palawan or Zamboanga,” said Empedrad on the sidelines of the Maritime Security Forum at the New World Hotel last Thursday.

Palawan is where the country’s Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project is located. It is also close to the West Philippine Sea’s reported mineral-rich Recto (Reed) Bank.

Empedrad described the surface-to-surface Spike missiles the Navy has acquired from Israel’s defense supplier Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which are now being refitted to the three MPAC, saying these could destroy targets with pinpoint accuracy.

He added that this latest addition of firepower to the Navy is expected to command respect from other navies sailing within the country’s maritime waters and at the same time serve as force deterrence to any threat that challenges the country’s security.

With top-speed of up to 42 knots, these missile-firing MPACs are highly capable of fast interdiction of hostile targets and highly ideal for rapid deployment and insertion of troops in the country’s maritime islets anywhere in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, the Navy chief said.

Empedrad also said the Philippine Navy is expected to receive a decommissioned Pohang-class corvette from the South Korean government, without cost except for repairs, refurbishment and the actual transfer.