The Philippines Navy has conducted test firing of its newly installed Spike-extended range (ER) surface-to-surface missile system off Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, the country’s defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed.
Missiles were fired from a multi-purpose assault craft (MPAC) Mark III vessel.
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A translation of what said Lorenzana was quoted by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) as saying: “The message to our people is that our navy is also improving, at par with what’s happening in the neighbourhood. If we are to be compared with our neighbours, we are lagging behind.
“The message to Filipino people, is that your navy is improving, acquiring more equipment and other assets so that we will have the capability to control our maritime territory.”
The exercise has also seen the participation of three Philippine Navy MPACs, which will each be equipped with the Spike-ER missile system, and an AgustaWestland AW-109 multi-purpose attack helicopter armed with 2.75in high-explosive rockets.
MPACs used remote-controlled .50-calibre machinegun fire and two missile rounds to engage three surface targets.
The first test-firing of the weapon system from one of the three MPACs was carried out in the same location by the Philippines Navy on 9 August.
Built by Israeli defence technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Spike-ER missile serves as the navy’s first weapon system that is capable of penetrating 1,000mm of rolled homogeneous armour and has a range of 8km.
