Spike-ER missile launchers to be installed early 2020

FILE: ‘SPIKE-ER LAUNCHERS’. Navy spokesperson, Capt. Henry Quinto on Friday (Oct. 4, 2019) says the launchers of the Spike-ER surface-to-surface missile of the three multi-purpose attack crafts (MPACs), activated last month, will be installed early next year. The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the Philippines in April 2018, is the PN’s first missile weapon capable of penetrating 1,000-mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a range of eight kilometers. (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA — The launchers of the Spike-ER surface-to-surface missiles of the three multi-purpose attack crafts (MPACs) activated last month will be installed next year, a Philippine Navy (PN) official said Friday.

“The launchers for the Spike-ER surface-to-surface missiles will be installed early 2020 and installation will be done in the Philippines like in the previous MPACs,” Navy spokesperson, Capt. Henry Quinto said in Filipino in a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The Spike-ER system, which arrived in the Philippines in April 2018, is the PN’s first missile weapon capable of penetrating 1,000-mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a range of eight kilometers.

Once these missiles are installed in the three newest MPACs, there will be a total of six Spike-ER armed platforms in the PN.

Overall, the number of MPACs in PN service is placed at 12 including the three activated last September 23.

These boats, which were delivered early this August, are called the Mark III. They have started constructing these MPACs, which are capable of running at speeds of 30 to 45 knots, in November last year.

Earlier, PN flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said at least 12 more MPACs are planned to be acquired during the Third Horizon of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Modernization which will run from 2023 to 2028.